Appointing 344 aides won’t save you from defeat in guber poll – Ondo PDP tells Aiyedatiwa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has strongly criticized Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s decision to appoint 344 individuals as senior special assistants (SSAs) and special assistants (SAs).

The appointments, made on Friday, come just two months before the state’s governorship election on November 10.

In a statement released on Sunday, Leye Igbabo, the PDP’s director of media and publicity in Ondo, described the appointments as “clueless,” particularly in light of ongoing demands for elected officials to reduce the cost of governance.

Igbabo argued that these appointments, lacking specific portfolios, are unlikely to prevent the governor’s defeat in the upcoming election.

“These last-minute appointments are a transparent attempt to deceive appointees who are already disillusioned with an administration lacking direction and substance. It is a desperate move to anchor them to a sinking ship, the final throes of a failing administration,” the party stated.

The PDP further claimed that the appointments reveal the governor’s deep fear of losing the November 16, 2024, election, describing them as futile efforts to secure his position by offering trivial roles to numerous individuals.

“However, it is too late to avoid the inevitable defeat at the polls. The people have already recognized that the governor lacks the resilience and capability needed to steer the state away from its current trajectory of decline, a situation exacerbated by his evident unpreparedness for leadership at this critical juncture,” the statement continued.

The party advised the governor to accept the reality of his impending defeat, suggesting that doing so might help him cope with the psychological and emotional aftermath of the election. The PDP asserted that the electorate has become more discerning and is now aware of the consequences of choosing candidates based on financial inducements.

Additionally, the PDP criticized Aiyedatiwa for the deteriorating state of Ondo, a region once known for its exemplary governance.

The party lamented the decline in public services and infrastructure, citing the absence of significant projects despite substantial federal allocations and other financial support received by the state over the past eight months.

“Akure, the capital city, has been reduced to a festering dumping ground with a pervasive stench, raising concerns about potential epidemics. Unfortunately, the state’s health facilities are inadequate to address such emergencies,” the PDP said.

The party also highlighted the abandonment of major road projects, leaving residents in affected areas to endure severe hardship and distress.

A government that previously blamed lack of funds for its failures has now chosen to squander taxpayers’ money on mass appointments, driven by a personal ambition that was doomed from the start,” the statement concluded.