Majority of members of the Ondo State Executive Council have resisted a fresh move by the embattled Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to undermine Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
It was leant that Aiyedatiwa had lobbied some exco members, urging them to join him in his quest to forcefully take power from the governor.
Before leaving for Abuja last week, it was gathered that the deputy governor held a meeting at his house in Alagbaka, where it was decided to bombard the media with the claims of Akeredolu’s purported incapacitation.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the state executive council disclosed that they were offered money and promised juicy ministries in exchange for their support for the deputy governor.
“The deputy governor has approached a number of us, claiming that the governor refuses to step aside, and thus he intends to forcefully assume power. He enticed us with financial incentives and promised us juicy ministries.
“One issue that has come to light is that many of us have discovered the deputy governor’s lack of sincerity. He promised six of us Ministry of Finance. Also, two commissioners and one special adviser have been promised commissioner in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
“Through our discussions and idea sharing, we have realised that the deputy governor is a dangerous politician who disregards the well-being of others. His sole focus is on gaining power through force. The truth is that the governor is actively working. Our files are being processed, and the governor frequently calls us to inquire about our request before approval is granted.
“We are bewildered as to why the deputy governor is treating his boss and benefactor in this manner. In fact, we have decided to reaffirm our support for the governor. Within few hours, we will release an official statement.
“We will also call for the deputy governor to step down from the government. He has sowed discord among us. He was the one who initially informed us of the governor’s alleged death in Germany. He assured us that the governor would not return. But now that the governor is back and working, why does he insist on forcefully taking power?
“This recent move by the deputy governor has opened our eyes. We have seen his true character. It is evident that the only way peace can be restored within the executive council is if the deputy governor resigns. He wanted us to come together and sign a document declaring the governor incapacitated and unfit for office, despite the fact that many of us have recently spoken with the governor. If you see how the governor scrutinises our files, you would know that Aketi is back. He does not approve any funds without consulting us and asking pertinent questions.
“As of now, all members of the state executive council have resolved to stand united. We acknowledge that we may have made mistakes in the past, but we were misled by the deputy governor. He lied to us and made us believe that our governor had passed away in Germany. He even accused certain exco members who are close to the governor of concealing the news of his demise from the state. However, we have discovered that these were all falsehoods. We will not succumb to these lies again. Only two exco members are currently aligned with the deputy governor.”
