Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, yesterday, stated that the dissolution of the cabinet was done in good faith.
He said this during the swearing in ceremony of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, in Akure.
Aiyedatiwa said: “The decision to dissolve the State Executive Council was borne out of a genuine response to the yearnings and aspirations of the people as well as the need to rejuvenate and reinvigorate this administration for maximum delivery on our mandate.
“We also needed to minimize unnecessary distractions usually associated with Cabinet Members and other appointees in an election year like we have in Ondo State.
“This is the standard practice in sane climes. The government needs to be less encumbered by politicking and pave the way for interested individuals to pursue their aspirations while simultaneously guaranteeing the continued enjoyment of good governance to our people in the Sunshine State.
“We have a sacred duty to our people not to sacrifice good governance on the altar of individual, though legitimate, pursuit of political aspirations. We harbour neither ill-wind nor animosity towards no one.”
The governor, who tasked the new deputy governor to serve diligently and patriotically, said his administration has zero tolerance for corruption.
He said: “We expect you to demonstrate transparent, open and accountable leadership in your new office.
“You must also avoid discrimination as you have the state as your constituency, rather than serving sectional interests.”
In his acceptance speech, Dr Adelami promised to be loyal to the governor.
Meanwhile, leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the Southern senatorial district of the state, yesterday, endorsed the governorship ambition of Governor Aiyedatiwa.
At a stakeholders meeting held in Ore, Odigbo local government area of the state, they promised to mobilise the people to ensure that Aiyedatiwa is elected as the state governor after completing the term of late Rotimi Akeredolu.
One of the APC leaders from Irele local government area, Prof. Sinmidele Odimayo, who spoke on behalf of other leaders, said: “We have decided to come together as his friends and leaders in Ondo South to discuss how we can actualise the mandate of his being elected in April in the primary and also in the governorship election.
“We have discovered that he is a man of principle, a man of progress who is determined to make the change, a man of wisdom, a man of great patience, and we know he can be able to carry the affairs of the state to a great level of development. We have no other option than to come together and implore our people that there is no other way; it is Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa all the way.”
“God has already given us a governor by making Lucky Aiyedatiwa the governor at this time. It is painful to us that Akeredolu left this world, but we know that he will be happy to have APC continue to be in power.”
Also speaking, the lawmaker representing Okitipupa Constituency II, Mr Ololade Gbegudu, said: “We are here to talk to our people about our dear governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“Everybody is willing to join the train, and everybody is committed to this job, and by the special grace of God, we will triumph.
“I was one of the people who moved against the impeachment of the governor when he was the Deputy Governor. I was one of the leading members of the 11 lawmakers that voted against his impeachment.”