Ondo Governor's Assistant Clashes with Aiyedatiwa on Alleged Port Announcement

The chief press secretary to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Richard Olatunde, has denounced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa's assertion that the Port Declaration obtained by Akeredolu's administration was flawed, characterizing it as a "clear misrepresentation" and "repugnant".

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Olatunde's statement, issued in Akure, outlined the meticulous process undertaken by Akeredolu's administration, including a feasibility study, securing a Certificate of Compliance from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and presenting the Outline Business Case to the Federal Ministry of Transportation, ultimately leading to the Port Declaration in May 2023.

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A clerical error in the document, resulting from the insertion of a company's name, was subsequently rectified by the Federal Executive Council, according to Olatunde, who emphasized that this error did not undermine the validity of the licence secured by Akeredolu's administration.

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Olatunde accused Aiyedatiwa of attempting to demean Akeredolu's legacy, highlighting the late governor's achievements, including securing a licence for exploration and initiating the new Government House project.

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Aiyedatiwa's statement, made during a media chat monitored in Akure, was quoted by Olatunde, who expressed concern that the governor's words were "laced with innuendo" and constituted a "clear misrepresentation" of the facts.

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Olatunde's response aimed to set the record straight and protect Akeredolu's legacy, which he believed was being unfairly maligned by Aiyedatiwa's comments.

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During the media chat, Aiyedatiwa stated that the Port Declaration secured by Akeredolu's administration was "faulty", prompting Olatunde to refute this claim and provide a detailed account of the efforts made by Akeredolu's administration to secure the Port Declaration.

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Olatunde noted that Akeredolu had activated the actualization of the seaport by engaging the services of a consulting firm headed by Mr Ekong Etim, which conducted a feasibility study and produced the Outline Business Case (OBC) presented to Akeredolu on August 15, 2020.

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The OBC was then submitted to the ICRC for a Certificate of Compliance and subsequently forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Transportation, ultimately resulting in the Port Declaration being secured in May 2023.

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Olatunde emphasized that the Port Declaration was the culmination of intense efforts and pressure mounted by the former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, and that Aiyedatiwa's dismissal of Akeredolu's contributions as merely having "started something" was unjust and failed to acknowledge the significant groundwork laid by the late governor.

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Aiyedatiwa's insinuation that the Port Declaration was faulty was attributed by Olatunde to a clerical error, which was rectified by the Federal Executive Council, and did not diminish the validity of the licence secured by Akeredolu's administration.

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Olatunde also pointed out that international companies, including China Harbor and Dubai Port, had expressed interest in developing the deep sea port in the state.

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The delay in the Port Declaration, according to Olatunde, was the reason Akeredolu was unable to further consolidate the arrangements before his illness and subsequent passing.

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Aiyedatiwa's claim that no previous government had explored bitumen exploration was disputed by Olatunde, who noted that the Akeredolu administration had indeed pursued and secured a licence for bitumen exploration in the state.

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The Federal Government, through the then Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, had approved and announced the licence, as part of efforts to diversify the economy and boost foreign exchange.

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Olatunde expressed disappointment that Governor Aiyedatiwa continued to attack and demean the achievements of the late Governor Akeredolu, including the new Government House project initiated and completed by Akeredolu before his death.

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Olatunde urged the people of Ondo State to seek the truth and not be swayed by falsehood, emphasizing that the facts spoke for themselves and that Akeredolu's legacy should be respected and protected.