'SSG Office Is Not a Political Holding Room' — Ondo Redemption Front Faults Aiyedatiwa Over Reappointment of Defeated Aspirant

Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

A civil society organisation has strongly faulted the reappointment of Dr Taiwo Fasoranti as Secretary to the Ondo State Government, arguing that the decision to return him to the position after he resigned to pursue a failed senatorial ambition raises fundamental questions about governance priorities under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The Ondo Redemption Front, at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, July 23, 2026, criticised the governor for leaving the SSG position vacant for months while Fasoranti contested the All Progressives Congress senatorial primary for Ondo Central Senatorial District, only to reappoint him after he lost the ticket .

Fasoranti, the son of Afenifere National Leader Chief Reuben Fasoranti, resigned as SSG on March 30, 2026, to pursue the APC senatorial ticket for the 2027 general election . He, however, lost the primary to the incumbent senator, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, amid allegations of manipulation of the winners' list . The governor announced Fasoranti's reappointment on July 21, 2026, citing his experience in public administration, policy formulation and governance .

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Chairman of the Ondo Redemption Front, Ayodeji Ologun, flanked by Co-Chairman Kayode Mogbojuri and Secretary Adedotun Ajulo, questioned why the SSG position was left vacant for months . "For several months, we, Ondo Redemption Front, have consistently raised concerns about the direction of governance in Ondo State," Ologun said . "Unfortunately, rather than addressing these concerns, recent events have only reinforced the conclusion that the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa remains trapped in a cycle of indecision, poor prioritisation, weak coordination, and governance by reaction rather than by vision" .

Ologun further argued that the reappointment had exposed a lack of strategic thinking within the administration. "While we congratulate Dr Fasoranti on his return, the circumstances surrounding his reappointment raise fundamental questions about the seriousness of governance in Ondo State," he said . "The office of the Secretary to the State Government is not a ceremonial position. It is the engine room of policy coordination and administrative efficiency" .

The ORF chairman faulted the governor for allowing a critical office to remain vacant for an extended period. "A serious government does not leave such a critical office unattended for months. A serious government understands that governance is a continuous process that cannot be suspended because one individual chooses to pursue political ambitions," Ologun said . He added that the delay in filling the position reflected either a lack of urgency, a lack of available competent hands, or a lack of appreciation of the importance of institutional governance .

Ologun warned that the public was now left wondering "whether the office belongs to the institution of government or has become a political holding room to be vacated and reclaimed at will" . The group also called on leaders across all levels to ensure that government institutions are strengthened and made stronger than individual ambitions .

Beyond the SSG controversy, the Ondo Redemption Front also raised concerns about the state of public healthcare in Ondo. Ologun listed inadequate personnel, insufficient equipment, poor infrastructure, and weak emergency response capabilities as challenges facing public hospitals. According to him, independent assessments have already placed Ondo State among the poorest-performing states in public hospital satisfaction. "That reality cannot be erased by press statements or public relations campaigns. The ordinary citizen seeking healthcare remains largely abandoned," he added .

Governor Aiyedatiwa, in announcing the reappointment, charged Fasoranti to justify the confidence reposed in him by serving the people of Ondo State with dedication, integrity, and commitment to the 'Our Ease' agenda of his administration . However, the protest by the Ondo Redemption Front signals growing discontent over what critics describe as a pattern of governance that prioritises political convenience over institutional stability and service delivery.

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