“Governor Aiyedatiwa Has Every Right to Build His Government — Those Who Want to Turn Appointments Into a Political Weapon Will Fail”

The Director-General of Opomulero Group/Movement, Hon. Olasupo Olakunori Michael, has fired back at Jimmy Adekanle JAF over his recent Facebook comments and what he described as a series of personal attacks against Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the administration of Ondo State.

Hon. Olakunori said JAF should stop disguising political opposition as public-interest criticism, stressing that Governor Aiyedatiwa has the administrative responsibility to constitute his government with competent citizens of Ondo State, subject to the applicable laws and the state’s financial capacity.

According to him:

“Jimmy Adekanle JAF needs to understand that governance is not conducted on Facebook. If he has genuine questions about the appointments, let him bring facts, figures and evidence instead of turning every government decision into an opportunity to attack Governor Aiyedatiwa personally.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa has every right to appoint as many people as the government can legitimately and responsibly accommodate. These are not foreigners brought from another country; they are citizens of Ondo State who have been given responsibilities to contribute to the administration.

“I served under the administration of former Governor Olusegun Mimiko, where there were hundreds of political appointments. So, what exactly has changed? Why is the same political practice suddenly being presented as a scandal simply because Governor Aiyedatiwa is doing it?”

“DON’T TURN POLITICAL DISAGREEMENT INTO PERSONAL ATTACKS”

The Opomulero DG condemned what he described as JAF’s increasingly personal approach to criticizing the Governor.

“You can disagree with Governor Aiyedatiwa. You can question his policies. You can challenge his decisions. That is democracy. But when criticism becomes a daily campaign of personal attacks without evidence, then the public will naturally ask what the real objective is.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa was elected to govern Ondo State, not to govern according to the instructions of Jimmy Adekanle JAF or anybody sitting behind a Facebook account.

“If JAF believes the government has violated a law, let him identify the law. If he believes the appointments are financially unsustainable, let him produce the figures. If he believes the appointees are unqualified, let him identify them and state the evidence. But throwing accusations into the public space and expecting everybody to accept them as facts is unacceptable.”

“WHERE WAS THIS SAME OUTRAGE UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS?”

Hon. Olakunori also questioned the consistency of those attacking the present administration over political appointments.

“Where was this same outrage when previous administrations appointed hundreds of political office holders? I was part of the Mimiko administration and I know that political appointments were not invented by Governor Aiyedatiwa.

“Even at the federal and state levels, successive administrations have used political appointments as part of their governance structure. The proper question is whether the appointments are lawful, useful, affordable and accountable — not whether a politician on Facebook likes them.”

“BTO SUPPORTERS SHOULD STOP USING EVERY GOVERNMENT DECISION TO ATTACK AIYEDATIWA”

The DG further addressed supporters of Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, saying their political disagreements with Governor Aiyedatiwa should not be disguised as neutral analysis of government policy.

“Let me say this clearly to all those who support Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo: every decision of the Aiyedatiwa administration cannot become an excuse for you to attack the Governor.

“If your political strategy is to question everything Governor Aiyedatiwa does, that is your choice. But Ondo people are capable of distinguishing genuine public-interest criticism from political propaganda.

“You cannot spend your time attacking the Governor personally and expect us to sit quietly. We will respond with facts, records and the truth about this administration.

“And let me assure JAF and all those who have chosen to make Governor Aiyedatiwa their daily political target: you will all fail in your attempt to use social media attacks to undermine this administration.”

“AIYEDATIWA WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED”

Hon. Olakunori maintained that Governor Aiyedatiwa should remain focused on governance and development rather than being distracted by social-media attacks.

“The Governor has work to do. Ondo people want development, infrastructure, employment, improved healthcare, education and economic opportunities. They are not interested in the endless Facebook warfare being manufactured by politicians.

“Jimmy Adekanle JAF should understand that criticism without evidence is noise, and personal attacks without facts will not change the reality of governance.

“If you have facts, bring them. If you have evidence, publish it. If you have a better alternative, explain it. But if all you have is another Facebook attack against Governor Aiyedatiwa, then the people of Ondo State will judge that for what it is — political noise.”

Signed:
Hon. Olasupo Olakunori Michael
Director-General, Opomulero Group/Movement