— Queries funding for new 2.38km project
By Dayo Johnson Akure
The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, has challenged the Lucky Aiyedatiwa administration to publish detailed project timelines, funding arrangements, procurement processes and implementation milestones for every project approved by the Executive Council.
In a statement issued in Akure, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Jolade Aladetan, was reacting to the state government’s approval for the construction of another 2.38-kilometre flyover in Akure, the state capital.
Aladetan said that while government supporters may celebrate these announcements, the people of Ondo State have become accustomed to a familiar pattern: “grand declarations, elaborate publicity, and endless project approvals that often struggle to translate into timely and measurable benefits for ordinary citizens.”
“It is instructive that barely weeks after commissioning Akure’s first flyover, the government is already unveiling another flyover proposal,” he said.
“The critical questions remain: What is the total project cost? What is the source of funding? What is the completion timeline?.
” Has the administration conducted a comprehensive assessment of competing infrastructure priorities across the state? The people deserve answers, not merely headlines.”
The PDP expressed concern that the administration appears more interested in announcing projects than explaining how they will be funded amid prevailing economic challenges.
“Across Ondo State, communities continue to grapple with deteriorating roads, inadequate healthcare facilities, insecurity, unemployment and rising poverty.
“Governance must be measured by completed projects and improved living conditions, not by the volume of EXCO approvals,” Aladetan said.
On the proposed conversion of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, into a University of Agricultural Science and Technology, the party said government must explain how it intends to fund and sustain a new university when existing tertiary institutions are battling infrastructure deficits, funding constraints and staff welfare concerns.
“Educational advancement should not become another political slogan deployed for public applause without a practical implementation framework,” the statement said.
On the rehabilitation of the Owena Dam, the PDP said while the move is welcome, Ondo people have heard repeated promises regarding water supply over the years.
“Citizens are more interested in seeing potable water flow through their taps than reading government press releases about counterpart funding and development partners,” Aladetan said.
The party insisted that development is not measured by the number of projects announced in council chambers but by visible outcomes on the ground.
“We therefore challenge the Aiyedatiwa administration to publish detailed project timelines, funding arrangements, procurement processes and implementation milestones for every project approved by the Executive Council,” the statement read.
“At a time when many communities across the state continue to cry out for basic amenities, transparency and accountability must accompany every government announcement. Ondo people deserve governance rooted in delivery, not public relations.”
The PDP said it remains committed to constructive opposition and will continue to hold the government accountable on behalf of the people of Ondo State.
