Ondo People Are Not Gullible – They Are
Truthful and Constitutionally Literate: Setting the Record Straight on the
Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowumi Isaac.
By Benjamin Akinjogunla Esq.
The recent publication by Comrade
Ayeni Temidayo titled “Ondo People Are Not Gullible: Why the Finance
Commissioner, Omowunmi Isaac Must Clarify State Revenues and Expenditures”
represents a classic case of misplaced aggression, selective amnesia, and constitutional
misunderstanding packaged as advocacy for transparency.
While the author claims to speak
for “informed citizens,” the piece deliberately ignores the clear provisions of
the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the hierarchical
structure of the Executive arm, and the visible developmental strides of the
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa administration.
It
also raises the uncomfortable but necessary question: Is this sustained attack
on Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac because she is a woman?
Let us address the issues logically and constitutionally, without sentiment or
rhetoric.
1. Constitutional Position of a Commissioner: Appointed, Not Elected – Responsible to the Governor, Not the Press
Under Section 192(1) of the 1999 Constitution,
the Governor of a State has the exclusive power to appoint Commissioners to
assist him in the discharge of his executive functions. A Commissioner holds
office at the pleasure of the Governor (Section 192(5)) and is not an elected
official.
Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac derives her authority from the Governor and is answerable first and foremost to him, not directly to the public or the press in the manner demanded by the writer.
The Constitution vests the entire executive authority of the State in the
Governor (Section 5(2)).
It is therefore constitutionally
improper for any Commissioner to begin granting solo press conferences on “how
money flows in and out” as if she occupies the elective office of Governor.
Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac has no such sole authority except when directed by the
Governor or when she appears alongside him.
To demand otherwise is to ask her to violate the very constitutional hierarchy the author claims to defend.
2. Public Finance and Accountability is a Collective, Not Solo, Responsibility
The management of public finance in Ondo State is not the personal burden of the Commissioner for Finance. It is a collective responsibility involving the Governor (who prepares and presents the Appropriation Bill under Section 121), the Ondo State House of Assembly (which scrutinises, approves, and oversees the budget), every Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) that executes and accounts for expenditure, and the Auditor-General of the State (who audits public accounts under Section 125).
The Consolidated Revenue Fund and
all public funds belong to the State, not to any individual Commissioner
(Section 120).
Demanding that one appointee
single-handedly “clarify state revenues and expenditures” every month is
constitutionally naïve and practically impossible. It ignores the doctrine of
collective executive responsibility.
3. The Governor is Already
Discharging the Duty of Public Engagement
Governor Lucky Orimisan
Aiyedatiwa has not been silent on the state’s finances. He recently granted a
detailed interview in Abuja where he comprehensively explained the state’s
financial position, revenue inflows, expenditures, and challenges.
This
is consistent with democratic best practices: the elected leader speaks for the
administration on matters of policy and public finance.
The Commissioner does not venture into the elective position of the leader by
issuing independent financial briefings unless expressly directed.
The author’s demand that she must
“stand before the press” is therefore an attempt to create a parallel power
centre that does not exist under the Constitution.
4. Visible Utilisation of Funds:
Salaries, Roads, Security, and Infrastructure
To the best of the Commissioner’s
knowledge and the testimony of ordinary citizens across Ondo State, public
funds are being prudently utilised. Civil servants and pensioners receive their
salaries as and when due—a feat many states still struggle with.
Road construction and
rehabilitation are visibly ongoing in every senatorial district. Security has
been strengthened, and other critical infrastructure projects are being
executed. These are not hidden; they are there for every Ondo person to see.
Transparency is not only about
press statements; it is also about tangible outcomes. The people of Ondo State
are seeing the results on the ground.
The real question the author
should ask is: why focus exclusively on demanding verbal explanations from a
female Commissioner while ignoring the Governor’s direct engagement and the
visible developmental strides?
5. A Dangerous Precedent and the
Gender Question
Past Commissioners (all male)
engaged the press under different Governors and circumstances. That was their style.
The current administration has chosen a different—equally valid—approach
centred on the Governor’s leadership.
To suddenly weaponise this
difference against a female Commissioner raises the legitimate suspicion of
gender bias. Is Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac being hounded simply because she is a woman
who has chosen to serve diligently within her constitutional remit rather than
grandstand? In a democracy that claims to promote gender inclusion, such
targeted attacks on female appointees must be called out.
6. Champion of Prudent Governance
and Fiscal Responsibility
In the face of these unfounded
criticisms and sponsored online narratives, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac has
consistently demonstrated exemplary leadership in managing the state’s
finances, aligning perfectly with the visionary and transparent governance
style of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. Far from the baseless allegations,
her stewardship has earned national acclaim and delivered tangible benefits to
the people of Ondo State.
A clear testament to this
excellence is the recent rating by the Debt Management Office (DMO) of Nigeria,
which named Ondo State as the best in debt management among all 36 states of
the federation. This prestigious recognition underscores the Commissioner’s
strategic and disciplined approach to fiscal management—ensuring sustainable
borrowing, timely servicing of obligations, and avoidance of reckless
indebtedness.
Equally commendable is the
Commissioner’s commitment to clearing inherited liabilities. In a bold move to
restore dignity to retirees, the state government released the sum of ₦2.4
billion to cover accumulated arrears and gratuities owed to pensioners from the
2018–2019 period—obligations left behind by the previous administration.
This
payment was a moral and ethical statement that the welfare of senior citizens
who served the state will never be treated as an afterthought.
Furthermore, the prompt payment of contractors as and when due has become a
hallmark of this administration.
This policy has directly fuelled the
ongoing execution of numerous capital projects across the state—roads, schools,
hospitals, and agricultural initiatives—without the usual delays that often
lead to abandoned projects.
By honouring contractual
obligations religiously, the Commissioner has restored investor and stakeholder
confidence, accelerated economic activity, and ensured that development is not
only planned but actually delivered…
It is regrettable that instead of
engaging constructively, some detractors have resorted to writing misleading
articles filled with hearsay and half-truths.
The Freedom of Information Act
remains the proper channel for any citizen or group seeking clarification on
government operations. Rather than peddling unverified claims online to mislead
the public, concerned individuals should harness this legal instrument to
formally engage the relevant authorities.
This would foster genuine
dialogue and accountability instead of the current atmosphere of
rumour-mongering.
At the heart of these persecutory
write-ups lies a deeper political motive—one that the Commissioner has
consistently refused to entertain. The old “bring and share money” culture,
where public office is reduced to a bazaar for dispensing favours and contracts
to cronies, finds no place in this administration.
The Commissioner, in line with
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s firm stance on prudence, integrity, and zero tolerance
for corruption, has prioritised the greater good of Ondo State over personal or
political patronage. It is precisely this principled refusal to indulge in such
politics that appears to have provoked these sponsored attacks and orchestrated
campaigns of calumny on the internet.
Conclusion
Ondo people are indeed not
gullible. They are truthful, observant, and constitutionally literate. Public
office must be exercised within the framework of the 1999 Constitution, not the
emotional dictates of any self-appointed “Comrade.”
Silence is not opacity when the
Governor has spoken and when tangible results are visible across the state,
salaries and pensions are paid, roads are being built, security is enhanced,
and contractors are settled promptly.
The Honourable Commissioner for Finance,
Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac, remains focused on her duties as assigned by the Governor.
She does not owe the public independent monthly press briefings; the
Constitution does not require it.
The administration as a whole
owes the people good governance, prudent management of resources, and periodic
accountability through the proper constitutional channels—all of which are
being delivered.
Let Comrade Ayeni Temidayo and
his ilk direct their energy towards constructive engagement rather than
selective persecution. Ondo State is moving forward.
The people can see it. The
Constitution supports it. The facts—especially the DMO’s national recognition,
the ₦2.4 billion paid to retirees, and the timely settlement of contractors all
speak louder than any sponsored article ever could.
The Commissioner for Finance remains a trusted pillar of this administration, and history will record her unwavering commitment to excellence in public service. Ondo State is working.
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