Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa said he has never interfered with the allocation of local governments since he came into power.
Mr Aiyedatiwa became the governor of the state after the death of his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died of protracted prostate cancer on December 27, 2023.
Speaking at the palace of Yangede of Epe in Ondo East Local Government Area of the state at the weekend, Mr Aiyedatiwa revealed that he always ensures that the financial resources that belong to the local government go to them.
The governor, who is the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the November 16 off-cycle election in the state, said that his administration had always ensured the relevance of the local government and empowerment at the grassroots.
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“My administration is not touching the allocations going to the local governments. What belongs to them is going to them, and that is why they can effectively get the traditional rulers and other stakeholders involved in the scheme of things,” he noted.
He promised to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, most especially at the grassroots.
The Yangede of Epe, Oba Isaac Oyebade, who welcomed the governor to his palace, pleaded for the upgrading of his stool to a first-class chieftaincy level.
The monarch, who described Epe as one of the ancient towns with varieties of local languages such as Idanre and Ile-Oluji, said the community cannot be left out of the ongoing development in the government of Mr Aiyedatiwa.
“The town should not be left out of the scheme of things. So, if other towns are upgraded, Epe should not be left out,” he added.
