Deputy governor of Ondo state, Dr Olayide Adelami occasionally stayed in a hotel apartment in Akure, the Ondo state capital as his official government quarter is under renovation.
Rahaman Adekunle Yusuf, Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media stated this in a statement at weekend, following an allegation by Ijanusi Olawale, the director of students mobilisation of the Ondo State PDP campaign council.
Ijanusi had alleged that Dr Adelami stays in a hotel in Akure, thereby wasting state resources.
Yusuf in a swift response dismissed the allegation as not only preposterous, that a young man like Ijanusi would cook such an enormous lies, adding that it begs the question as to what kind of young people are being raised by the opposition in Ondo state.
“For the records, Dr Olayide Adelami, mni, an accomplished Nigerian, who retired as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, was sworn in as the Deputy Governor of Ondo state on the 1st of February, 2024 and was operating from his house in Owo. He was later provided a room at a hotel by the protocol unit of the Deputy Governor’s office, due to the pressure of the work, which most times don’t allow him return to Owo, as his supposed official residence was under renovation.
“The hotel accommodation provided for Dr Adelami is a room and parlour for him alone, and none of his aides has ever stayed in the hotel with him, as we all have our own accommodations in different places within Akure metropolis.
‘It should be noted that the Deputy Governor knows nothing about the hotel payment, which is not in his purview, but always checks out of the hotel to relocate to his country home in Owo when there are no matters of urgent importance for him to attend to in Akure, due to his prudent nature.
“For several days in each month, the Deputy Governor comes to his office in Akure from Owo where he houses and feeds everyone on his entourage from his personal purse, as he has always done for anyone close to him, even before he became deputy governor.
“While it is noteworthy that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has ordered the renovation of the Deputy Governor’s official residence, which will be completed soon, it is on record that no deputy governor has occupied the said lodge since the first tenure of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, including the PDP candidate, Agboola Ajayi, who appointed Ijanusi as his campaign’s director of students mobilisation.
“Having served as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Adelami’s track records is without blemish till date.
“These sterling qualities, and many more, are what qualified Dr Adelami to be appointed as deputy governor by His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who believes in his ability to join him (Aiyedatiwa) in managing the affairs of the state for the benefit of the good people of Ondo state,” the statement noted.