The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has dismissed two of his female media aides.
According to reports, this decision was officially announced in a statement released by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, and was subsequently shared with journalists in Akure, the state capital.
The two aides affected by this decision are Ewatomilola Emiola, who served as the Senior Special Assistant on Research & Documentation, and Kikelomo Isijola, the Special Assistant on Digital Media. Both individuals have been instructed to return all government properties in their possession to the Chief of Staff’s office as part of the official procedure.
In the statement, it was noted that the reorganization of the Government House Media team has been approved by the Governor. The statement reads as follows:
“The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved a reorganization of the Government House Media team.
“As a result, the following media aides have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect: Ewatomilola Emiola, Senior Special Assistant on Research & Documentation, and Kikelomo Isijola, Special Assistant on Digital Media.
“They are directed to hand over government assets in their custody to the Chief of Staff’s office.
“The Governor appreciates their service and wishes them success in their future endeavors.”
In a related development, the Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly criticized the recently signed 2025 state budget, referring to it as a “budget for looting.”
The Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had signed the ₦698.6 billion budget into law, just a week after its passage by the State House of Assembly.
Among the allocations in the new budget, ₦200 million was set aside for lawmakers, and ₦280 million was allocated specifically for “phone expenses” for the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly. These figures have raised concerns and sparked debates regarding the budget’s priorities and its potential misuse of public funds.
In response to the budget, the PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, issued a statement condemning these allocations as excessive and unnecessary. The PDP has called for a more transparent and responsible approach to the management of the state's finances. The criticisms reflect ongoing concerns about financial mismanagement and accountability within the state government.