Group alleges plan to hand over Ondo forest reserves to governor’s son

It is plot to blackmail my son, says Akeredolu

A group, Ondo State Concerned Timber Merchants (OSCTIM), has raised the alarm over an alleged clandestine plot by the state government to hand over the forest reserves to a consultant firm allegedly linked to the state governor’s son, Babajide Akeredolu.

The group, in a statement signed and made available to journalists in Akure, yesterday, by its State Co-ordinator, Alhaji Olawole Idris, alleged that Akeredolu’s family was on a mission to siphon all resources of the state and that the governor’s son had been using one Ilesanmi Ademola as front-man for the shady deal.

OSCTIM revealed that the state government intentionally placed a ban on all activities in the forests to enable it to perfect all documents before the new consultancy company begins operations.

But the state government has also raised the alarm over a grand plot to blackmail Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his immediate family and the state government.

The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, said the planned smear campaign was targeted at the governor’s family with fabricated details and spurious allegations.

It said: “It has come to our notice that some unscrupulous individuals have perfected plans to blackmail the Akeredolu administration, using the first family as a target of their smear campaign.

“The plan, which was hatched and orchestrated by these individuals, particularly targeted the governor’s son, Babajide Akeredolu, on allegations of high handedness and interference with government decisions, especially as it relates to the economic activities at the government forest reserves.”

“Succinctly, the purveyors of this heinous plot have perfected plans to lie against the governor and his son of attempting to take over the management of the forest reserves so as to corner the resources for personal gains.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Akeredolu handles the business of government with utmost respect and accountability. The government decision to ban all logging activities and subsequent lifting of the ban, are all in the interest of the state.”

Ojogo urged members of the public to disregard the lies being peddled around by bad losers whose aim was to distract the governor and government of the state.

(The Guardian)