Group Faults Domestic Abuse Allegation against Ondo Deputy Gov

Fidelis David in Akure

An advocacy group under the auspices of Ilaje Development Summit Group (IDSG), yesterday faulted the allegations that the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was fond of beating up his wife, Mrs. Oluwaseun.

This comes two days after a group known as the Society for Women Empowerment (SWE), alleged that Ayedatiwa had physically assaulted his wife twice in four months.

But the deputy governor in a statement issued through his Media Aide, Mr. Kenneth Odusola, said that he had never laid his hand on his wife since they got married.

The IDSG in a statement it addressed to the state governor, which was signed by the group’s Deputy Executive Administrator, Dr. Ola Judah Ajidibo, said that the allegation was an attempt to impeach the deputy governor.

The statement reads: “We have confirmed that the allegations of domestic abuse by the deputy governor of his beloved wife, Mrs. Oluwaseun Aiyedatiwa, is a fabrication from the pit of hell and designed to generate an impeachable offence since there is no other ploy that the plotters could employ.

“Hon. Aiyedatiwa could not accused of financial impropriety, of being unfaithful to his wife, or of generally not living a disciplined life.

“Furthermore, he has been a man of proven absolute loyalty to your excellency, hence the resort to crafting domestic abuse allegations. We also know that based on your own knowledge of your deputy, and interactions with him and his wife, you will easily give short shrift to such ridiculous allegations.

“We are saddened by the fact that this unfounded allegation and clear machination of political blackmail was meant to ruin Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s reputation and is meant to distract him from performing his assigned duties during your absence. It is a great disservice to Ondo State and we respectfully urge your excellency to call the perpetrators of the evil scheme to order.

“Your Excellency, it is possible that you are fully aware of what is happening in Ondo State while you are away and feel very reluctant to get involved, believing that politicians will always solve problems themselves.

“It is also possible that you are aware of what is going on and it is also possible that you are not completely aware of what is happening. Whichever is the case, your excellency, at this point as the chief security officer of the State, your immediate intervention is of utmost urgency,” he said.

The group also alleged that the deputy governor was deliberately snubbed during proceedings at the State House of Assembly last Friday during the inauguration of the 10th assembly members.

“We are particularly pained, knowing of his utmost loyalty to your excellency and to your administration. The recurrence of these designs against Hon. Aiyedatiwa is the cause of serious concern and is deeply agitation the minds of the entire Ilaje nation, given that he is one of our esteemed sons, a leading light and role model to many within and outside Ilajeland.

“In the circumstances, we are being forced to regard the continued harassment of Hon. Aiyedatiwa as deliberate ploy to slight the Ilaje nation from which he emerged.

“We are at a loss on the goings-on, considering the mammoth support that the Ilaje nation gave your joint (Akeredolu–Aiyedatiwa) ticket in 2020. This is the first time since the creation of Ondo State in 1976 that an Ilaje man would be deputy-governor.

“Since these strange events have been happening, we have long pondered over and, but have been unable to answer this nagging question: ‘who is afraid of Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and why?’” he stressed.

The group also berated the alleged continued disrespect and sidelining of Ilaje people despite their continued contribution to the progress and development of the state.

“The place and contribution of Ilaje to the continued progress and development of Ondo State cannot be over-emphasised. As residents of the sole oil producing area and by virtue of which Ondo State is recognised as an oil producing State, Ilajes are the only citizens of Ondo State whose lives have been irreversibly affected by upstream sector activities, even though the entire State is reaping the benefits.

“Entire communities including Ayetoro, (a Nigerian tourist landmark) have been, or are being, washed away right before our eyes and wreaking unimaginable trauma on Ilajes because of our helplessness to stem the onslaught.

“Consequential ecology has taken away the means of livelihood of our people (fishing/acqua culture, hunting, logging, etc), and affecting the quality of their lives in the process (exemplified by transformation of drinkable water sources).

“The special interventions envisaged by law through the OSOPADEC and NDDC have not been significantly felt, and recently the impact of NDDC has been felt more in other parts of Ondo State than Ilaje Local Government Area. Yet, we have been bearing our fate with equanimity.

“However, there is a limit to our long suffering, and we felt compelled, with every sense of responsibility to alert your excellency to the ongoing shenanigans, so that this disrespect of the Ilaje nation can stop forthwith.

“The last time we checked, and as guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, we are also citizens of this state, and not strangers? In line with the foregoing, we hereby appeal to your excellency to use your good offices to call those that want to disturb the peace and equilibrium of Ondo State and thereby distract your administration from consolidating on your achievements during this last lap of your tenure, to order.”