When Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa unveiled the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), it wasn’t a mere political ritual, it was a bold declaration of intent. A clear signal that Ondo State is done with drifting and ready to embrace structured, visionary leadership.
For too long, the Sunshine State has been rich on paper and poor in execution. Beneath the golden slogan lies untapped wealth – the world’s largest bitumen deposits, oil and gas reserves, fertile farmlands, and a pristine coastline screaming for tourism and trade.
Yet, without a compass, even a treasure hunter remains broke. Now, that compass has arrived in the form of the GAC, a think tank of proven minds, designed to convert dreams into measurable progress.
This council is not a crowd of political cheerleaders. It is a conclave of seasoned technocrats and political heavyweights whose résumés could fill volumes of Nigeria’s governance history:
*Chief Pius Akinyelure – The patriarch at the helm. Former NNPC Board Chairman and APC National Vice Chairman, bringing oil-sector mastery and political depth.
*Hon. Isaac Kekemeke – A legal colossus, former Attorney General, ex-SSG, and current APC South-West Vice Chairman—the strategist you call when policy meets law.
*Senator Ajayi Boroffice – Former Deputy Senate Majority Leader, armed with legislative influence and political capital at the center.
*Pastor Bankole Oluwajana – Political tactician with a moral compass, because governance without conscience is chaos.
*Chief Jamiu Ekungba – Business titan injecting private-sector efficiency into public policy.
*Hon. Awodeyi Akinsehinwa Apata – The grassroots operator ensuring policies don’t die as PowerPoint presentations but translate into real impact.
With this squad, Ondo’s development blueprint will no longer gather dust in government archives, it will become a living, breathing force of progress.
Ondo is standing on a goldmine. From bitumen deposits that can rival global suppliers, to fertile farmlands that could make us Nigeria’s food basket, and a coastline stretching into the Atlantic, the opportunities are endless.
But let’s be blunt: opportunities mean nothing without strategy. For years, unneccessary political bickering and disjointed governance have robbed this state of its destiny.
The GAC changes that narrative. Its mission is clear and deliberate, they are to provide seasoned policy direction, ensure political stability for governance to thrive, attract investors using the credibility and networks of its members as well as position Ondo as a model state for sustainable development among others.
Lagos didn’t become Nigeria’s economic nerve center by magic. It rose on the backbone of structured planning, stability, and the foresight of strategic advisory councils. Ondo is now on that trajectory, and make no mistake: the GAC is the engine room.
So why the noise from critics? Because some people cannot recognize progress even when it slaps them in the face. They call the GAC a “liability.” They claim it “cannot cure the defective capacity of the governor.” Laughable. Such comments don’t just reek of ignorance, they drip with bitterness.
Here’s the truth: Leadership in the 21st century is not about pretending to know everything. It is about the humility to seek counsel, the wisdom to leverage expertise, and the courage to make bold moves. Governor Aiyedatiwa has done all three.
To condemn this council is not just wrong, it is anti-development. It is the thinking of those who would rather see Ondo stagnate than succeed without their influence. But governance is not about ego, it is about results.
Mark these words: in a few months, when this council’s impact starts manifesting in coherent policies, economic rejuvenation, and infrastructural growth, today’s cynics will swallow their words. History will vindicate Governor Aiyedatiwa for this audacious step.
The Sunshine State will not just shine, it will dazzle. Because when experience meets opportunity, the result is nothing short of history in the making.
Ondo’s time is now. Let the naysayers talk, the work will speak louder than their noise.
Hon. Kikelomo Isijola is Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor on Digital Media