THE Ondo State Government said on Sunday that it has uncovered an attempt by an ambitious governorship hopeful in the forthcoming election in the state to discredit the current administration of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, who had contested and lost governorship elections in the state, had consistently been using his daily newspapers to publish falsehood about the state government.
Akinmade said the publisher was obviously uncomfortable with the euphoria, accolades and commendations received by Governor Mimiko from highly respected individuals and institutions during the celebration of the third anniversary of his administration last week.
“The politician has consistently been using his publications, which includes a news magazine and a daily newspaper, to be casting aspersions on the person of the governor and discrediting his administration with falsehood and outright blackmail.
“The publisher had during the week sponsored some of the reporters of his newspapers to the state to carry out a pre-determined investigation by conducting interviews with known members of the opposition parties who will never give a fair assessment of the administration.”
The Commissioner noted that residents of the state are already applauding the various efforts of the current administration in the state to improve their standard of living and general wellbeing in the areas of empowerment, job creation and food security among others.
He also said that the Dome project, an event centre that will become a tourist destination whenever it is commissioned before the end of the year, had achieved 70 percent completion contrary to insinuations that it is an abandoned project.
The statement also mentioned that contrary to the aim of the publisher, residents of the state have repeatedly confessed their confidence in the government of Dr Mimiko and have vowed to ensure he is re-elected for a second term in office.