Akeredolu’s Son Slams Naming of Uncompleted Project After His Father, Calls It Hypocrisy

Babajide Akeredolu criticizes the naming of an uncompleted project after his father, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, labeling the act as hypocritical and unnecessary.

Babajide Akeredolu, son of the late Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, has urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to complete the projects started by his father as a way to genuinely honor his legacy.

In a controversial statement, Babajide expressed doubts about Governor Aiyedatiwa’s sincerity and specifically criticized the choice to name an incomplete project after Rotimi Akeredolu.

He contended, “It is both premature and insincere to name a project after someone before it’s completed,” emphasizing the significance of tangible accomplishments over symbolic gestures.

A senior government official, who wished to remain anonymous, refuted Babajide’s assertions, labeling them as baseless. The official also voiced concern over what they considered a disrespectful tone in Babajide’s remarks about the governor missing family events. They suggested that such comments demonstrated a lack of respect for the office of the governor.

He stated clearly that Governor Aiyedatiwa was fully informed of the Akeredolu family’s plans for the remembrance.

Professor Wole Akeredolu, my uncle and the head of the Akeredolu family, personally informed the governor during his monthly praise night event held in November at the Dome in Akure.

The governor confirmed awareness and assured that the state government would participate in the event.

Additionally, an official invitation letter was sent to Mr. George Asonja, the Director of Protocol at Government House. The letter was received and acknowledged appropriately. At no time did the governor or his representatives mention any conflicting plans or imply that the state government planned to organize a separate event.

Learning about the state-organized event through social media just three days before it took place was both shocking and deeply disappointing. It was even more disheartening that no member of the Akeredolu family received an invitation to this event.

Such a disregard for courtesy and respect is both unprecedented and inappropriate, particularly for an event intended to honor the memory of a former governor and patriarch. While we acknowledge that the state government has the authority to organize such events, fundamental decency and protocol require informing and involving the family of the deceased.

This obvious oversight raises the question of whether it was intentional mischief or resulted from incorrect guidance given by the governor’s aides.

Babajide, in a pointed remark, praised Governor Aiyedatiwa for conducting the groundbreaking ceremony of the proposed Judiciary Complex—an initiative started by former Governor Akeredolu. He stated that “true immortality is achieved through completing and ensuring the functionality of this project.”

In discussing the best way to honor his late father, Babajide urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to “urgently prioritize finishing the major projects that our late patriarch started.”

He stated, “As a former Head of the Project Performance and Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU), I have the knowledge and experience necessary to advise Governor Aiyedatiwa on honoring Arakunrin Akeredolu’s legacy. It’s imperative that Mr. Governor urgently focuses on completing important projects started by our late leader.”

Elevate Rufus Giwa Polytechnic to university status. All initial research and recommendations for this transition were finalized under Akeredolu’s administration. The current governor should accelerate this process to realize the vision of his predecessor.

“Finish the Initial Flyover in Akure.”

The flyover at Onyearugbulem Junction, an all-inclusive project originally scheduled to be finished in 18 months, is progressing very slowly. Completing it would appropriately recognize Akeredolu’s dedication to infrastructure development.

Tackle Unfinished Road Projects

Construction on the road behind SIB in Akure has been left unfinished, causing residents considerable distress throughout both the dry and rainy seasons.

Ijoka Road has become a nightmare because of neglect. The poor work done on Oda Road since Governor Aiyedatiwa took office is even worse compared to the quality achieved during Akeredolu’s administration.

In response to the criticisms directed at the State government, a senior official who wished to remain anonymous stated: “Is Babajide oblivious to the public attacks and unbridled criticism his mother, a former First Lady, has unleashed on the Governor since he took office? Is he also unaware of how she has embarrassed both the Governor and Deputy Governor by disregarding their greetings at public events?”

Babajide’s privilege of holding a non-existent political position during his father’s administration does not give him the authority to dictate how Governor Aiyedatiwa manages government projects and policies.

The road projects he referenced, such as the Oda Road dualization, Ijoka road dualization, and the Irese flyover, were left incomplete when he and a few others created an unnecessary political crisis during his father’s illness that affected state operations. Contractors working on these projects had not received payment for their work and had abandoned them for nearly two years until Governor Aiyedatiwa re-engaged them in February of this year.

Babajide should address his lack of awareness by visiting the road projects to evaluate their progress over the past year under Aiyedatiwa’s administration. These projects experienced setbacks during his tenure as Director General of the Project Performance and Implementation Monitoring Unit, a position from which he informally assumed the role equivalent to that of a Governor for three years.

“Before making bold statements about how to run the government, Babajide should first return all the government properties he took.”