Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has said that he has never interfered in the allocation of the local government since he came into power. 

“My administration is not touching the allocations going to the local governments,” said Mr Aiyedatiwa, who became the governor after his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu, died of prostate cancer on December 27, 2023. 

Mr Aiyedatiwa, who spoke at the palace of Yangede of Epe in Ondo East Local Government Area at the weekend, said he ensures the LGAs receive the financial resources that belong to them.

“What belongs to them is going to them, and that is why they can effectively get the traditional rulers and other stakeholders involved in the scheme of things,” said Mr Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the state’s November 16 off-cycle election.

He promised to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, most especially at the grassroots. 

While stressing that his government was focusing on agriculture, the governor assured that his ears were open to the people’s yearnings for purpose development. 

The speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oládiji, assured the governor of the full support of the people of Ondo East local government. 

Remarking, the Yangede of Epe, Isaac Oyebade, who welcomed the governor to his palace, pleaded for the upgrade of his stool to a first-class chieftaincy level. 

“The town should not be left out of the scheme of things. So, if other towns are upgraded, Epe should not be left out,” the monarch said.