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.

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.

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

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).

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

“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!.”

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

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

“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.

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.

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.

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

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

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