By Hon. Agboola Ajayi, has criticized Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, accusing him of incompetence in handling the state’s growing security crisis. Ajayi urged the governor to act swiftly to combat the rising wave of banditry and kidnapping.
Ajayi, who was the PDP’s candidate in the last governorship election, described the governor’s approach as sluggish and ineffective. He called for the immediate revitalization of Amotekun, the regional security outfit, and the creation of armed forest guards to flush out criminal elements from the state’s forests.
Reacting to protests that shut down the Governor’s Office in Akure over recent killings and kidnappings, Ajayi emphasized the urgency of the situation. “The need to take full grip of this crisis cannot be delayed a day longer,” he stated, questioning how Aiyedatiwa’s security vote of over a billion naira is being utilized.
In response, the Ondo State chapter of the APC dismissed Ajayi’s remarks as political opportunism. The party’s media director, Steve Otaloro, accused him of fear-mongering, stating that the former deputy governor was using the security situation to gain political relevance rather than offering meaningful solutions.
Ajayi, however, argued that previous administrations had successfully kept security threats under control. He recalled his time as deputy governor under the late Rotimi Akeredolu, when firm actions were taken against banditry, including banning open grazing by herdsmen. “Unfortunately, the gains of that era have been allowed to slip away, and the people are now in pain,” he lamented.
With rising tensions in Ondo, many residents are calling for immediate action to restore peace and security across the state.
