Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday presented 20 brand new 2019 model Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUVs to the judges and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu.
This is in fulfillment of his administration’s promise to create conducive atmosphere for the state’s work force.
The vehicles were received by the chief judge of the state on behalf of the other judges at the Government House, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital
The chief judge, who thanked the governor for the gesture, said judges in the state, including herself, had been using 10-year-old official vehicles, which had become rickety, before the governor’s intervention.
According to her, she and her colleagues have various experiences of disappointments arising from their use of the rickety vehicles for their official duties.
She said: “My colleagues and I have been riding 10-year-old vehicles, hitherto. We have had various experiences of disappointments in the use of our vehicles.
“I recall once I was on the way to Abuja, my vehicle broke down around Obajana. And you know the security situation in that axis. Before long, the boys were gathering. Fortunately for me, I had the pilot vehicle with me. I had to enter the pilot vehicle to get away from that environment.
“If you bring my colleagues here, they will tell you the various experiences they have had with their vehicles. I want to thank God for Mr. Governor. I want to appreciate this good gesture. We don’t have feelings of entitlement, though the regulation says give judges new vehicles every four years. By this regulation, it’s an entitlement. But at the same time, we want to appreciate Mr. Governor for not taking us for granted.”
Before the Permanent Secretary, General Administration in the Governor’s Office presented the vehicles to the judges, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, had said that the procurement of the vehicles further demonstrated the respect Governor Akeredolu had for the sacred institution.
Ojogo stressed that Akeredolu believed that nothing would be too much to invest in welfare of the Judiciary.
He said: “My Lords, I don’t need to inform you further that Mr. Governor holds the Judiciary in a very high esteem. He believes that no effort will be too much to be invested as far as the welfare of our sacred institution is concerned.
“And our judges, he believes strongly that you deserve not just a conducive environment, but that you must be secure in whatever form. It’s on this note that Mr. Governor decides that as part of the efforts towards enhancing a cordial relationship between the Executive and the Judiciary, these vehicles should be procured.” (NAN)
