By Adekola Afolabi

|

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has reassured the people of Ile-Oluji of his determination to create a Local Council Development Area (LDCA) for the ancient town.
Governor Akeredolu said it is odd that the town was merged with Oke-Igbo as one local government area.
He said the creation of the LCDAs would have been done but for the lack of fund which has militated against the progress made on the exercise.
The Governor spoke on Tuesday while playing host to the Jegun of Ile-Oluji, Oba Julius Oluwole Olufaderin Adetimehin, and his chiefs who were at the Governor’s office on an Appreciation Visit.
Akeredolu, who explained that the process of the LCDA creation is cumbersome, noted that only the availability of money can oil it.
“In no distant future, I want to give you an assurance that Ile-Oluji will become a Local Government Area on its own. I have said it before, you can see the oddity in putting Ile-Oluji with Oke-Igbo. We are working on it. There are too many.
Speaking on the finances of the state, the Governor described as unfortunate the inability of the state to pay full salary of its workers.
He said: “If we tell you we have money, we are lying. We came here, boasting that we won’t owe salary. We weren’t owing. We were even paying arrears. But now, it is disheartening. We are owing.
“Help us continue to talk to our people, we don’t wish to owe salary. But there is no money. What we receive from FAAC is what we use to pay these salaries.”
The Governor, while responding to the appreciative message of the Jegun of Ile-Oluji on the appointment and elevation of the Ile-Oluji sons and daughters in the Akeredolu administration, said their elevation and appointments were based on merit.
“No part of the state can boast of the number of Ile-Oluji people who are in government today. Today you have the Head of Service, Accountant-General, Statistician-General and many Permanent Secretaries.
“Their appointments were not influenced by anything. It is entirely on merit. Even the commissioner for finance who is serving his second term, I chose him because he merited it. It’s a thing of joy for Ile-Oluji,” he said.
Earlier, the Jegun appreciated the Governor for the appointment and elevation of sons and daughters of the town into various positions in government.
The monarch also rejoiced with the Governor, his deputy and the good people of Ondo state on the victory recorded recently at the Supreme Court.