Akeredolu’s Return Changes Narratives in Ondo Politics

The return of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State to the country after a three-month medical vacation to Germany has unsettled those who were poised to take advantage of the sickness to hijack the politics of the state, writes Wale Igbintade

All is not well in Ondo State as the protracted feud between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his estranged deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, is taking its toll on the State Executive Council. Currently, there is apprehension among commissioners, special advisers and other aides as the governor fired the deputy governor’s aides.

The governor, who last week returned to the country after a three-month medical leave in Germany, may reshuffle the state executive council to weed out members who were suspected to be disloyal during his absence. Many aides are jittery over the impending reshuffle, which may take place immediately after the governor’s return to Akure next week, a source said.

It was learnt that Akeredolu was sad that some of his aides caused serious tension in the state while he was away by sponsoring some reports that embarrassed the government and the state chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). According to a source, the Chief of Staff, Chief Olugbenga Ale, and about six commissioners may be dropped for allegedly working against the interest of the governor.

Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, announced the sack of Aiyedatiwa’s media aides – Press Secretary Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant (Photography), Abayomi Samson Adefolalu. 

The statement added: “Consequently, all members of the press crew are to report back to their various ministries and stations. Equally, the Ministry of Information and Orientation is directed to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy governor’s office henceforth.”

Sources said Ayedatiwa’s aide “were fired for insubordination and flagrant disregard for appropriate authority.”

However, the embattled deputy governor who said he remained loyal to his boss, attributed the brewing crisis to agents of blackmail bent on causing friction.

While leaving for Germany on medical vacation, Akeredolu transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly relinquishing power to Ayedatiwa as acting governor. The governor, who returned penultimate Wednesday, is still in his Ibadan home, where he has been carrying out official duties.

Penultimate Saturday, Speaker House of Assembly, Mr. Oladiji Olamide and the Deputy Speaker, Abayomi Akinruntan presented a bill creating 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which the governor signed.

However, the acting governor, who was accused of disloyalty by some of the aides of the governor, allegedly used the opportunity to fester his governorship ambition. The move by Ayedatiwa pitted him against some governorship contenders and loyalists of Akeredolu in the state executive council.

There is an informal agreement in Ondo APC to zone the governorship slot to Ondo South, where the deputy governor hails from. The aggrieved governorship aspirants are from the district. A party source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said trust has broken down between the governor and his deputy.

He said: “There is no division in the party. The Aketi family is big and intact. But, there are complaints against the deputy governor who tried to create a camp from the big camp, while positioning himself. The camp of the deputy governor started  misbehaving, thinking that the governor would not make it. Some actually thought that the governor would not return. It was even reported that the governor had died.”

The relationship between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa became frosty after the governor came down with a terrible sickness that led to his being flown to Germany for treatment. A source in the government who pleaded anonymity said, though the deputy governor had openly displayed loyalty to his boss, the governor’s sickness brought suspicion.

“The deputy governor always told his boss that he is loyal and a partner with the governor. But the governor’s sickness changed all that. Some people in the state probably thought the man would not survive and they cried that Aiyedatiwa be accorded the title of acting governor. All the while, the deputy seems to love the show and he was subsequently addressed as acting governor. Perhaps that singular act angered the governor,” the source said.

It said a detailed report about how the deputy governor ran the state in his absence got to him where he was recuperating. On his return, Akeredolu declared that he would remain alive to complete his tenure, a statement believed to be a reaction to his rumoured death or incapacitation.

The source added: “The deputy governor was careless with some statements, which were taped and played to the governor’s hearing. At a meeting with other governors, he as acting governor of Ondo State complained that he was being denied access to the governor and was not given a free hand when other governors asked him whether he was hearing from his boss. Colleagues of Akeredolu called him to tell him that his deputy was not loyal.”

But reiterating his loyalty to the governor, Ayedatiwa said some faceless individuals and groups were plotting to dent his reputation and cause disaffection between him and the governor.

“Stakeholders have commended the deputy governor for the way he handled state affairs while he was acting governor, despite all his detractors did to provoke him into taking drastic actions. He avoided their booby traps and they tripped on their own banana peels.  Against their expectations, the deputy governor was in constant touch with his principal on official state matters; so, there was no gap between them.

“How can the man who was constantly in touch with his boss and had prepared for his arrival to attend some other critical state matters, including the signing of the LCDA Law after passage by the State Assembly, be surprised by that same arrival?

“Those behind the falsehoods being peddled around had planned that these concocted lies about disloyalty and impeachment would irritate Mr. Governor and his family so as to land a devastating blow on the deputy governor ahead of the coming governorship election in the state.

“Now that Mr. Governor is back and has started working, the deputy governor remains calm and committed to the duties of his office and unruffled by the lies of desperate politicians and their agents. The deputy governor remains loyal to his Principal and no amount of fabricated lies will change that.”

But Ondo State indigenes under the aegis of Ondo Solidarity Union (OSU) had faulted the claim by Ayedatiwa that he was loyal to Akeredolu. Its coordinator, Kunle Akinfolarin, challenged Ayedatiwa to deny waging a media war against Akeredolu, with a view to gaining an upper hand.

The group also challenged the deputy governor to deny his complaint about lack of control over state finances and that he did not openly state that the governor could not have signed files because he was bed-ridden.

In the statement entitled: ‘Aiyedatiwa’s Constant Denials And The Facts Before Us,’ the group also challenged him to deny his role in peddling rumours about Akeredolu’s health, suggesting that he may not return to govern the state.

Meanwhile, while there is tension in the state, the governor is administering the state from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. This is why the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked him to return to Akure to complete his tenure.

In a statement issued its spokesperson, by Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, the party said Akeredolu has been governing the state from his Ibadan residence since his return from medical leave. The party said with Akeredolu governing the state from Oyo, he might have been brought back into the country “to foil an impeachment process”. 

“Last week, the PDP, Ondo State chapter challenged the rationale for Akeredolu calling for a meeting in his Ibadan residence, instead of Ondo State where he was elected to govern. Akeredolu is beginning to fuel media speculations that, against the advice of his doctors, he was hurriedly brought into Nigeria to foil an impeachment process. He also ordered an upgrade of his Ibadan residence to include a replica of Executive Council Chambers, from where he intends to hold Exco meetings.

“Does Akeredolu want to make Ibadan the capital of Ondo State? What is the hurry to resume all about, if he cannot come to Ondo State? Would it not have made more sense if he was still attending to his health abroad? Why did he say he has resumed when indeed he has not?”

The Ondo PDP asked Akeredolu to proceed on another medical leave if still unfit, rather than running the state from Oyo. 

Even an APC pressure group in the state, Ondo Solidarity Forum, has also described as “a show of shame”, the alleged relocation of governance from Akure, the Ondo State capital, to Ibadan to enable Akeredolu to resume office.

In a statement issued by its acting chairman, Femi Ogunleye, and publicity secretary, Kayode Fasua, the group described the mass movement of members of the executive and legislative arms of government from Akure to Ibadan “to make Akeredolu resume office”, as a mockery of democracy and a master plan by the cabal in the state.

The statement added, “While we wish Governor Akeredolu well and pray for his quick recovery, our people in Ondo State are not dunces to know that the function of the legs is to walk and not that of the head. Yes, the recuperating governor is back in Nigeria and has settled in at his Ibadan, Oyo State residence to take a deserved rest.

“Why, therefore, the hurry to make Governor Akeredolu resume office when he is not yet fit? It is indeed a show of shame for the cabinet members and other aides in the executive arm and the entire members of the House of Assembly loaded in a coaster bus like Boys Scout, to form a long convoy of vehicles from Akure to Ibadan, to go proclaim that Akeredolu, who is still on vacation, has resumed as governor.

“We are all human beings and are susceptible to one ailment or the other, so we particularly feel for Governor Akeredolu and pray for his full recovery. However, if the governor was truly fit enough to resume office, he would have stormed Akure and be ushered to a tumultuous welcome or show up at the Governor’s Office in Alagbaka to continue his duties.”