Omoyele Sowore, a renowned human rights activist, has described Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State as the “most expensive ghost worker” in the country.
Mr Sowore, who spoke on Saturday at a town hall meeting in Akure, the capital city, to demand the resignation of the ailing governor, criticised how Mr Akeredolu clung to power despite his health challenges and continued to receive security votes outside the state.
“Governor Akeredolu is the most expensive ghost worker in Nigeria as of now because he spent N7.9 billion on security votes for the period he was not at work. Is that not a ghost worker?
Even in his right sense, he (Akeredolu) wouldn’t have accepted that somebody is getting paid for not working and the people that are even working in Ondo state, he’s not paying them. Why is he now paying himself when he is not working? So, it doesn’t make sense,” Mr Sowore said at the gathering attended by activists and members of civil society organisations.
The town hall meeting comes amid agitations over Mr Akeredolu’s worsened health condition that has forced him to stay outside Ondo after his initial return from a medical vacation from Germany.
The embattled governor’s ill health had split his government, giving room for the “cabals” in the cabinet, including his son, Babajide, to hijack the administration before the intervention of President Bola Tinubu after several protests by critics and the opposition party.
While noting that residents had remained silent over the political crisis, which has affected the state’s development, Mr Sowore said he and other concerned citizens needed to demonstrate courage by defending the constitutional rights given to Mr Akeredolu.
He bemoaned how the governor’s signature was forged by those in the government.
“We are here today because it was because we demonstrated courage. We are to free the state from the jackals holding the state to ransom. In Ondo, monkeys are now swallowing money in the state.
Meanwhile, We are not here to fight for Lucky Aiyedatiwa because all of them are the same thing, but we’re here to fight for the people of the state. So, everyone involved in these shenanigans must be arrested in proper order,” the activist said.
Aligning his position with Mr Sowore, the executive director of Enough is Enough (EiE), Yemi Adamolekun, lamented why Mr Akeredolu said the state’s residents had had enough political tussle among officeholders hindering development.
Ms Adamolekun, also an indigene of Ondo State, said she was baffled by the appointment of Mr Akeredolu’s son, Babajide, into the State Executive Council, noting that the people should have questioned the moral ground of the governor’s action.
“It’s not about Akeredolu, but let me remind you that we allowed things to get to this stage because we allowed it to happen that way. We should have shut down Ondo State even before his son (Jide) was appointed as a member of the cabinet.
“So, It’s not about if Akeredolu resigns or resumes but about giving ourselves the sense that whoever we are appointing into political offices are those with our interest at heart. Election is coming next year, and you should shine your eyes properly. Enough is Enough, and this nonsense has to stop,” she said.
On his part, a human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, condemned how Mr Akeredolu and his family had ruled the state with impunity since he emerged and returned for a second term in office amid his serious health challenges.
Other activists and members of the civil society who spoke threatened to stage a “mother of all protest” if Mr Akeredolu failed to resign from office.
A fortnight ago, Mr Akeredolu transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly, informing the lawmakers of embarking on another medical trip abroad.
