Is the First Son of the State More Powerful than Ondo Deputy Governor?

Ondo State, known as the Sunshine State, continues to live up to its name. Recently, with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu taking time off to recover from illness, there have been verbal attacks and accusations aimed at high-ranking members of the state, suggesting that governance has been handed over to Akeredolu’s son, Babajide. This has raised questions about the role of the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and whether he has been sidelined.

The involvement of family members in governance has sparked debates in Ondo, attracting attention and stirring discussions. Governor Akeredolu is known for his assertive nature and willingness to confront challenges head-on. As a result, those who attempt to undermine his influence by targeting his son’s position and involvement in the state have made little progress.

In reality, Babajide shares many qualities with his father. He is competent and ensures that power is effectively managed, leaving no room for inefficiencies. Since his father fell ill, Babajide has stepped up and capably handled the responsibilities of managing the state. On the other hand, Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa has faced various challenges and accusations, leading some to believe that the Akeredolu family has marginalised him.

These accusations persist, despite the lack of evidence, primarily because they are not new. Even before Babajide assumed his role as the Special Adviser and Director-General of the Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit of Ondo State, his mother, Lady Betty, faced similar accusations. She was alleged to have significant influence over contract approvals, causing the Akeredolu family’s reputation to suffer blows over time.

It appears that Babajide is now experiencing the scrutiny that comes with being effective in his role. Whether his last name has contributed to his growing power and influence will become evident over time. Although he has stated that he has no intention of taking over his father’s position (which is not possible anyway), some analysts remain convinced that he has sidelined the deputy governor and assumed a more prominent role in his father’s absence.