Ondo PDP Slams Govt Over ‘Neglected Hospitals, Misplaced Priorities

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has criticised the state government for prioritising the construction of new hospitals while allegedly neglecting existing healthcare facilities, which it says are deteriorating due to poor funding.

The party clarified that it is not opposed to building new hospitals, but described the move as a misplaced priority given the deplorable condition of government-owned hospitals across the state.

In a statement issued by its Director of Media and Public Communications, Wándé T. Àjàyi, the PDP said the logic of erecting new structures while existing ones are left to decay is difficult to justify.

The statement added, “After carefully reviewing the recent pronouncements by the Aiyedatiwa administration following its Executive Council meeting, we find it necessary to once again distinguish governance from what increasingly appears to be a ritual of empty declarations.

“At the heart of our concern is the revelation that this is the first Executive Council meeting of the year. In a state facing economic strain, infrastructural decay and rising security challenges, such a delay in convening the highest decision-making body is not only irregular but indicative of a deeper culture of inertia.

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“A government that takes months to assemble itself for deliberation cannot convincingly claim urgency in addressing the pressing needs of its people. This abnormality explains the slow, reactive and ultimately retrogressive governance trajectory in Ondo State.

“Let it be clearly stated that the PDP is not opposed to the construction of new hospitals. Expanding healthcare infrastructure is, in principle, commendable. However, it becomes questionable when existing hospitals remain in poor condition, grossly understaffed and poorly equipped.

“Healthcare delivery is not merely about erecting new buildings; it requires strengthening the entire system , personnel, equipment and maintenance. Without this, new projects risk becoming mere monuments rather than functional institutions.”

The PDP also expressed concern over what it described as inadequate attention to security challenges in the state, noting that many communities continue to grapple with fear and unresolved threats.

“Governance must be rooted in priorities, and at this critical moment, the safety of lives and property should command more than passing references in post-meeting briefings,” the statement added.

The party further criticised the lack of transparency surrounding the proposed hospital projects.

“Beyond the headline figure of ‘500 beds,’ where are the cost implications, budgetary allocations, contractors, timelines and funding structure? Governance is not conducted in abstracts. The people deserve verifiable data, not vague projections.

“The continued absence of transparency reinforces public perception that accountability has been eroded in the operations of the Ondo State Government.

For a state that has repeatedly witnessed cycles of announcements without delivery, skepticism is justified. The people of Ondo now demand proof, process and performance,” the statement stressed.

The PDP urged the Aiyedatiwa administration to abandon what it described as a culture of delayed governance and opaque communication