Ondo Governor Under Fire for Commissioning ‘Keke’ Ambulance as Anniversary Project

‎Residents and political activists in Ondo State are expressing deep-seated anger following Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s decision to commission a single tricycle ambulance and a borehole as landmark projects for his first anniversary in office.

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‎The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami, officially unveiled the “keke ambulance” and a 100,000-litre water scheme at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) Teaching Hospital complex.

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‎The ceremony, intended to celebrate a year of leadership, has instead sparked a wave of mockery and criticism across the Sunshine State.

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‎The backlash was swift, with many pointing to Ondo State’s status as an oil-producing entity that receives significant monthly allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

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‎Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore described the move as a sign of regressive leadership.

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‎“An oil-producing state reduced to using a Kéké as an ambulance?” Sowore questioned. “Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa presides over a state that receives derivation funds from oil revenue. Ondo is not bankrupt. Ondo is not landlocked. Ondo is not a war zone. Yet, citizens in medical distress are transported in tricycles? It is finished!.”

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‎Local residents shared this sentiment, arguing that the cost of organizing the commissioning event might have outweighed the value of the projects themselves.

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‎A resident identified as Odunayo termed the event a “show of shame,” noting that the state is losing its prestige compared to its peers.

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‎“Imagine the government publicly commissioning a renovated primary health centre and a tricycle ambulance; it says a lot about the priorities of the Ondo State Government under the leadership of Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa,” Odunayo lamented.

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‎Social media users also weighed in, with one citizen, Raphael Oyetogun, comparing Aiyedatiwa’s output to other governors.

‎He noted that while Nyesom Wike built numerous flyovers in Rivers and Alex Otti is transforming Abia, Ondo is celebrating projects usually reserved for local government councillors.

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‎In a bid to quell the rising tension, the Governor’s aide, Yomi Oyekan, released a statement defending the utility of the tricycle ambulances. He insisted that the vehicles were not meant to replace standard ambulances but were a “strategic addition” for specific terrains.

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‎According to Oyekan, the tricycles are designed for rural, riverine, and hard-to-reach areas where narrow roads prevent conventional ambulances from navigating quickly.

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‎“Healthcare delivery is not about optics; it is about accessibility and saving lives,” Oyekan stated.

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‎He further accused critics of “selective outrage,” claiming they ignored previous distributions of fully equipped, conventional ambulances by the Aiyedatiwa administration.

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