- Aiyedatiwa tried to persuade Exco to push for transfer of power to him – Govt officials allege
- I have every right to aspire to govern Ondo State – Dep Gov
- Akeredolu unlucky with choice of deputies – APC group
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Ahead of next year’s governorship election in Ondo State, there is a crack and obvious apprehension among members of the state Executive Council as the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is allegedly moving to battle Governor Rotimi Akeredolu over the governorship seat.
The Point gathered that while Akeredolu is battling an illness, Aiyedatiwa and some politicians in the state are making deft moves to make political gains out of it.
Sources within the government revealed that the governor had become aware of his deputy’s lack of loyalty.
The Point learnt that the governor has grown increasingly uncomfortable, owing to blatant acts of disloyalty and excessive ambition of his deputy.
While the deputy governor has not officially declared his intention to run in the 2024 governorship election in the state, his subtle campaign was said to have begun some months ago.
According to impeccable sources, trouble began when Governor Akeredolu went on vacation in April and entrusted the deputy governor with the responsibilities of the governor’s office.
During his short stay as the acting governor, the deputy governor, it was alleged, prioritised his personal interests over that of the state and the governor.
Also, some members of the Executive Council have pointed fingers at the deputy governor regarding the circulation of stories about the governor’s ill-health and subsequent rumours of his death.
Exco members, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, owing to the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that the deputy governor had sparked rumours about the governor’s health.
Expressing disappointment at the governor’s choice of deputy governors, one of the Exco members clarified that Akeredolu’s health was not deteriorating.
“The deputy governor is behind all these circulating stories. What actually happened was that after the Cabinet meeting three weeks ago and the subsequent courtesy visits, the governor decided to take some time to rest.
“The truth is, Aketi is a workaholic. Often, we are the ones who have to insist that he takes a break. After the strenuous work he did three weeks ago, he was resting at the Government House in Akure. However, some individuals kept disturbing him at his residence.
“Then, last Sunday, he left Akure for Ibadan in the hope of getting some much-needed rest. The governor has been advised to deliberately spend quality time resting. So, the deputy governor went to Ibadan to visit him and brought along some files.
“However, he didn’t inform the governor or his close aides about his visit. Upon reaching Ibadan, the governor signed the files, which were then returned to him. But the governor didn’t wait to talk to the deputy governor.
“When he returned to Akure, he started telling some of our associates that the governor should transfer power to him. He even attempted to persuade Exco members to support his position.
“He deliberately initiated these rumours about the governor’s iil-health to gain public sympathy and support. The deputy governor lied to us. It was only when we started contacting the governor ourselves that we learned the truth.
“Just last Monday, the governor signed the May 2023 salary. The fact that the ministries are functioning should assure you that the governor is in charge and actively involved. At present, he is upset and pissed with these false stories,” the exco member said.
Another insider in government also revealed to The Point that the deputy governor had already formed a group within the cabinet.
“The deputy governor has promised the Commissioner for Mines and Energy, Rasaq Obe, that he would be his deputy if their plan to remove the governor from power succeeds. Furthermore, he has assured the current Chief of Staff, Gbenga Ale, that he would appoint him as Secretary to the State Government.
“Unfortunately, the duo of Rasaq Obe, Wale Akinlosotu (Commissioner for Culture and Tourism), are all vying to become Aiyedatiwa’s deputy governor.
“Also, the Special Adviser on Gender, Olamide Falana, has allegedly pledged loyalty to the deputy governor as part of her scheming to be the NDDC state representative nominee. Falana is said to be using a member of the National Assembly from the Northern senatorial district to champion her aspiration.
“At present, all these individuals are aligned within the same camp, seeking for the governor to transfer power to the deputy. Their loyalty is questionable.
“The deputy governor met with the governor last week, during which the governor signed various files for him, including the Local Government salary. Why would the deputy governor remain silent in the face of negative reports about his boss in the media? We know he is behind them.
“In fact, he was urged to issue a statement refuting these fabricated stories, but he declined. It is truly disappointing to witness such behaviour from someone who was handpicked by the governor and made deputy governor,” the source lamented.
In a related development, a group called the Renewed Mandate Progressives Forum, has also accused the deputy governor of plotting to cause confusion and seize power from the governor’s office.
The group, in a statement signed by its coordinator, Maxwell Olajuni, alleged that the deputy governor was inciting other members of the cabinet against the governor.
The statement reads, “We have reliable information that the deputy governor has made plans to challenge the governor for his seat. We are aware that Mr. Governor has been facing health challenges, but we have observed his recovery and his continued functioning.
“Recently, we received reports that the deputy governor has been meeting with various groups, offering them large sums of money to blackmail the governor using his health status as an excuse.
“Instead of praying for his boss and supporting him, the deputy governor seems determined to engage in a battle for the governorship. He is overly fixated on the office of the governor. He should wait until 2024 to contest for the governorship and allow Aketi to complete his tenure.
“We are compelled to raise this alarm due to the governor’s numerous contributions to the Nigerian project. Aketi is not just a governor; he is a national asset. We will throw our weight behind him and support him through this unnecessary battle.
“It is disheartening that a man like Aketi does not have the fortune of a loyal and dedicated deputy governor. Aketi’s sincere and trustworthy nature, combined with his integrity and honesty, are being taken for granted by these overly ambitious deputies. It is truly unfortunate.”
I have every right to aspire to govern Ondo State – Aiyedatiwa
However, the deputy governor has debunked allegations that he has been surreptitiously working to unseat his ailing principal, Akeredolu.
Reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson during an interview with The Point on Monday, Aiyedatiwa said he wouldn’t betray Akeredolu and that he is still loyal to him despite his absence in the state.
He also refuted reports that there was division in the government and that he was colluding with some other members of the State Executive Council to unseat Akeredolu.
“It’s not true. Even though I don’t like talking about this, the deputy governor and the governor are extremely close and the deputy governor has been extremely loyal up till tomorrow. There is no division in the government. The governor is running the affairs of the state and he is being supported dutifully by the deputy governor. So, there is no issue about division, there is none.
“I can assure you that the state affairs are going on. Today (Monday), we are celebrating Democracy Day
On Saturday, we had something at Owo, and the deputy governor was there. Both of them (Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa) are on the same page on the governance of Ondo State,” Odusola said.
On the allegation that Aiyedatiwa was mobilising secretly to contest the forthcoming governorship election in the state, Odusola said the deputy governor had every right to aspire to govern Ondo State.
“Everybody can aspire and the tenure of the current governor ends in February, 2025. Because it will end in 2025, every politician, including the deputy governor, has a right to aspire to succeed him and that does not mean a division because at the end of the day, the governor is not contesting for a third term. This is his last time running. So, every member, including myself, could decide to run because I will not be running against the governor. So, that’s the way it is,” he noted.
