12th September, 2023
Speculations of the downturn in the relationship between Ondo governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, were confirmed on Tuesday with the sack of all media aides of the latter with immediate effect.
The media aides of the deputy governor were asked hours after one of them issued a statement denying claims of friction between Aiyedatiwa and Akeredolu who returned to the country last week after about three months in Germany for medical treatment.
Akeredolu had on return to the country immediately taken over from his deputy who had acted as governor when he was away.
The media aides of Aiyedatiwa who were sacked by the governor, according to a statement by Olabode Richard Olatunde, Chief Press Secretary to Akeredolu, include Kenneth Odusola who issued the statement restating the loyalty of his boss to his principal.
The others sacked were Special Assistant to Governor (New Media) Oladipupo Okunniga; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Samson Abayomi Adefolalu.
The sacked media aides were ordered to submit all government properties in their possession to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor.
Also, the Press Crew attached to the office of the deputy governor has been disbanded and all the members were ordered to report back to their various ministries and stations.
According to the statement, the Ministry of Information and Orientation will now provide coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office.
Aiyedatiwa had in a statement earlier today dismissed insinuations that he was no longer loyal to his boss in reaction to what he described as “lies weaved as news stories by some faceless individuals and groups were aimed at denting his reputation and causing disaffection between him and the governor.”
According to him, “the repeated and recycled lies in different forms were orchestrated by those whose sole intention was to soil ‘the image of the man who they see as a threat to their political interests.”
He added that the faceless individuals were threatened by his profile, his relationship with his boss and the goodwill he enjoys with the people.
He said: “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.”