By Akinwale Kasali

The worsening health of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has plunged the State into crisis, leading to rift and rancour between the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the State.

It is been gathered that the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akeredolu on Agriculture, Akinola Olotu is capitalizing on the poor State of health of the Governor and his absence to begin the sale of some Government properties.

Senator Ayo Akinyelure, the Senator representing Ondo Central Senatorial District raised the alarm alleging the connivance of Olotu with some people to illegally sell out the Ondo State chocolate factory worth between N9 Billion and N15 Billion at a give-away price.

Akinyelure had held a Press Conference in Abuja, exposing the move by Olotu and some other cronies working for Governor Akeredolu to capitalize and take advantage of the present situation to amass illicit wealth for themselves.

The Senator had said that his action was important for him to stop such adventure with his position as a lawmaker that was democratically to represent the people of Ondo State.

According to him, “ The Ondo State Government under the immediate past administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, established the Coca Processing Factory as part of his state-wide industrialisation drive, by taking over the moribund Federal Government Asset and entering into a partnership with an American chocolate industrialist, Eric Reid of Spangvola Chocolatier United States of America to convert dried Cocoa bean from the state to Chocolate and cocoa butter, thereby adding value to Nigeria cocoa produce before export.

“The machinery for the smooth take off of this very important in Idanre was imported, installed, and equipped for commencement of production in partnership with Mr. Eric of Spangvola Chocolatiers, USA, while the first batch of Chocolate production was made in 2015 after the commissioning of this multi-billion naira project by the state government at the twilight of the Governor Olusegun Mimiko administration in 2015.

“To guarantee a constant supply of cocoa beans to the factory, the Oda Cocoa Plantation, which is over 1,744 Hectares, was resuscitated and made functional with over 250 Cocoa farmers’ up-scaling daily production from the farm to feed the factory.”

The Lawmaker disclosed that aides of Akeredolu planned to sell off this asset under the guise that the asset were non operational ; not putting into consideration the huge investment the State Government had committed into it.

“Some cronies of the Ondo State Government and the Special Assistant to the Governor onAgriculture had concluded arrangement to sell the same factory at the give-away price at the detriment of people of Ondo State and Idanre Local Government in particular without following due process in line with provisions of the Public Enterprise (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act, 1999 which has generated public outcry to stop the Government from selling the property of Ondo State meant to generate employment for the good people of the State now and in future.

“These people are taking advantage of the ill health of the governor to sell state-owned properties to themselves. By God’s grace, the governor will get better”.

Following the allegations leveled against Olotu by Akinyelure, the Governor’s aide has however debunked the allegation, saying due diligence was followed in the selling of the chocolate factory.

He said, “What does Akinyelure know about the chocolate factory? Does he know the current situation of the place?

“The factory was set up before the coming of this administration but it was not functioning. Mr Governor looked at it to make sure one or two things are put in place to make sure that the place works.

“After that, the consultant that was managing the place was invited. He is a Caribbean based in America. In our interactions with him, when he got back, he was furious due to bad management.

“Eventually, we were able to work out something, and the place was declared open. Unfortunately, COVID-19 struck and he couldn’t come to Nigeria after the first visit. Then the Nigerians were trained, were managing the place, till their leader died. “

Olotu said that the Senator was mere playing to the gallery, that it is impossible for the government torun the factory.

He however added that the sale of the factory was announced nationwide for bidders to apply, but he is surprised to hear that he was accused of secretly trying to sell a government asset.

“On the proposed sale of the factory, due process was followed in the process of selling the chocolate factory”, Olotu stated.