The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for allegedly neglecting the growing problem of waste accumulation in various areas of Akure, the capital of Ondo State.
The opposition party claims that Akure, once recognized as one of the cleanest cities in the region, has deteriorated into an unsightly mess since Aiyedatiwa took office 10 months ago.
In a statement released by the party’s publicity secretary, Kennedy Peretei, he remarked, “All major thoroughfares in Akure, along with local markets, are now eyesores, with unsightly piles of garbage strewn across every available area.”
He further pointed out, “Perhaps the most astonishing sight is the overgrown weeds in the median of the roads, where banners promoting Governor Aiyedatiwa’s 2024 governorship campaign hang, vying for attention amidst the refuse.”
“Shouldn’t the garbage have been cleared before putting up these advertisements? It’s unclear whether we should focus on the trash or the governor’s ambitions. At Oja Oba, one of the largest markets on Oba Adesida Road, shopkeepers are forced to use spades to push back the refuse just to display their goods.”
Peretei lamented the irony that government officials harass these small traders with various daily fees. He noted that the grim conditions are not limited to just one area, stating, “The same situation is evident along Arakale Road, Ondo Road, Ilesha Road, and Igbatoro Road. With the foul smell emanating from these locations, an outbreak of disease is imminent.”
He added, “Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration has failed to uphold the cleanliness that it inherited from the PDP-led government.”
“The Ondo State Waste Management Board, under his leadership, appears to be inactive, putting citizens’ health at risk.”
Peretei challenged the narrative that Ondo State is fortunate, pointing out that the state has previously been recognized as the cleanest in the Southwest. “Now, it seems we are on the verge of earning the title of the dirtiest state. It would have been more effective if the nearly 400 recent political appointees of the governor had been assigned to clean Akure’s streets weekly.”
He suggested, “Dressed in white aprons and gloves, equipped with compactors, they could make a real difference instead of merely drawing salaries for doing nothing.”
Peretei concluded by stating that any visitor driving through Ondo State would be left with the impression of a dirty population, a reputation tarnished by an ineffective governor and his administration. “Implementing an efficient waste management system doesn’t require advanced expertise. The current filthy conditions are a far cry from any notion of good fortune.”
