The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of managing the state as if it were his personal enterprise, following his failure to appoint a full cabinet and essential aides.
In a statement issued on 11th June 2025 and shared with Starnews NG by Oyeniyi Iwakun, the State Publicity Secretary of the SDP, the party expressed serious concerns regarding the implications of the governor’s governance style.
The statement reads: “The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State rejects Governor Aiyedatiwa’s resort to running Ondo State like his private empire without upholding the tenets of delegated legislation as one of the basic and integral parts of successful democracy.”
The SDP further asserted, “It is incontrovertible that for seamless administration and to ensure maximum delivery of democratic dividends, the principle of delegated legislation is sacrosanct if any government genuinely intends to pursue deliverables in the interest of the governed.” They lamented, “Unfortunately, the reverse is the case in Ondo State. The governor, who was elected on 16th November 2024 and sworn in on 24th February 2025, has struggled to maintain a full cabinet complement since he was sworn in.”
According to the party, “Most ministries in the state have been rendered redundant and ceremonial without any meaningful accomplishments. Governor Aiyedatiwa has been running a one-man show, thereby slowing the pace of governance in an anti-people manner.”
The statement highlighted ongoing concerns, stating, “For instance, concerns have been raised about budget implementation efficiency under the current administrative structure. What do we now expect when the governor appears to be running the state like a kind of private empire?”
The SDP also criticised the recent initiatives of the governor, noting, “Recently, the governor flagged off the dualisation of the Igbokoda-Okitipupa road, and up till now it still remains a cosmetic project on paper without any feasible implementation.” They added, “Ordinarily, if the governor had maintained a complete cabinet, a rational person would have advised him that it wasn’t strategic to limit the project to Okitipupa and Ilaje, but such a project should have begun from Ore to Araromi Seaside while connecting with the Akure-Ore highway.”
In conclusion, the SDP stated, “It becomes worrisome to Ondo State people that Governor Aiyedatiwa hasn’t demonstrated the urgency required in maintaining a full cabinet and other essential aides for effective governance.” They called for immediate action: “The SDP calls on the governor to take responsibility and, as a matter of urgency, elevate Ondo State to its desired status by ensuring his cabinet operates in full capacity rather than the current fragmented pattern of governance.”
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