Some social commentators in Ondo State have kicked against how the state governor, Olawarotimi Akeredolu, is addressing the allegation of extortion against some Caretaker Chairmen, who were accused of swindling their Supervisory Councillors on the pretence of elongating their tenure.
According to the concerned citizens, the governor ought to have wielded the big stick against the any of the Caretaker Chairmen who have been found culpable, particularly as they are his appointees, instead of issuing a press statement to effect.
DAILY POST had on Saturday reported how Gov. Akeredolu warned the Caretaker Chairmen across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state against alleged involvement of some of them in the scamming of supervisory councillors under the pretext of granting them tenure elongation.
Akeredolu, in the statement issued on Saturday, dissociated himself from what he described as fraudulent act by some of the chairmen who were alleged to have been using his name to swindle some of the 203 supervisory councillors across the state to the tune of N20,000 each.
Reacting to the development, a social commentator in the state, Tosin Oluwalowo posited that the action of the governor was a wrong move.
He argued that such issue should have been dealt with more appropriately by identifying and sanctioning those involved.
“Internal issues do not need a press release I believe. Pass an internal memo, fish out the alleged caretaker chairmen and sack them,” he said.
Also, Mr Wale Obanigba stated that a press release for such allegation will further polarise governor’s team in the state.
“This is not good for the image of the this government (Gov. Akeredolu) in my humble view. It’s a further testament to general public that all is not well within the Aketi Team.
“First, the Caretaker Chairmen in question are appointees of Mr Governor.
“Secondly, if the government is aware of such 5th columnists within, there are enough internal mechanisms at the disposal of Mr Governor to deal with such.
“Thirdly, this press release will further polarise the Aketi Team, and such crack can be an avenue for the opposition within and without the party to take advantage of.”
For Mr Olumide Afolabi, he believes “this is internal crisis that need not press release. I thought Mr governor would have invited all the caretaker chairmen and warned them not to be involved in any dirty deal. While he also sent memo to the counselors.”
But while defending the action of his boss, Richard Olabode Olatunde, who is the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, explained that the press release became expedient in order to curb the flying rumour accusing the governor of his involvement in the alleged scam.
“There have been rumours making the round that the Governor sent some Caretaker chairman to collect N20,000 from supervisors who desire to be reappointed.
“The story has really spread like a wild fire among party members and leaders.
“Just yesterday, it was a subject of discussion among people in town. I strongly believe it’s imperative for the Governor to come up straight and dubunk this rumour.
“This way, party members will know the truth and so also are members of the public. Internal memo can’t solve this issue. It has become a public matter and got to do with integrity,” he stated.
