The faction of All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the House of Representatives, aligned with the legacy of the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is urging President Tinubu to intervene and admonish Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for what they perceive as disrespect towards their departed leader.
Earlier accounts documented Aiyedatiwa’s ascension to the governorship of Ondo State in the wake of Akeredolu’s death on December 27, 2023.
In a public letter directed to President Tinubu and endorsed by six legislators including Adesida Abiodun (representing Akure North/South), Timehin Adelegbe (representing Owo/Ose), Festus Ayodele (representing Ileoluji-Okeigbo/Odigbo), Ojogo Kimikanboh (representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo), Odimayo John (representing Okitipupa/Irele), and Adegboyega Adefarati (representing Akoko South West/South East) Federal Constituencies, the lawmakers cautioned of grave repercussions for the APC should Aiyedatiwa persist in his current course of action.
Speaking to reporters in Abuja on Friday, the caucus leader, Adesida, urged President Tinubu to intervene in the situation to uphold the reputation of the ruling party, especially in light of the forthcoming governorship election scheduled for November.
He asserted that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s official decisions signaled a lack of appreciation for the legacies left by the late Akeredolu.
Adesida said, ‘The deputy governor appointed by Mr Aiyedatiwa is a well-known political adversary of the late governor. Despite hailing from Owo, they never saw eye to eye during the late governor’s lifetime. Olajide Adelami caused a great deal of trouble for the late Akeredolu during his bid for re-election in 2020 to which you were committed.’
‘Furthermore, it has become common knowledge in the state that Mr Aiyedatiwa has aligned himself with every disgruntled and established political enemy of the late Akeredolu. As an example, the appointment of Barrister Kola Olawoye, a suspended APC member and former Attorney General of the state, as Aiyedatiwa’s campaign coordinator in Owo has been widely condemned by loyal party members, particularly in Owo.’
‘Mr President, the governor has created a significant divide and caused deep discord among party members. Currently, the party’s state Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, is being marginalised and sidelined. To make matters worse, Governor Aiyedatiwa has resorted to sending his proxies to warn the chairman and pressure him into resigning. It is a bad situation, sir.’
Read also: Pick Owo Deputy To Offset Akeredolu’s Death – Aiyedatiwa Told
The lawmakers further urged Tinubu to ‘prevent Ondo State from falling into the hands of the opposition due to internal conflicts,’ adding that there is an ‘urgent need for decisive and unifying leadership becomes more evident than ever.’
However, Mr. Abiola Makinde, the lawmaker representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, issued a statement lambasting his colleagues, branding their purported concern and allegiance to the late Akeredolu as fake.
He said, ‘With due respect to my colleagues, I think this letter has revealed those who intend to create a crisis in the party than averting it. That lawmakers who are leaders in their constituencies would suddenly wake up to protect the dead Former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, whom they abandoned when he was alive is self-defeating.’
‘Since the death of the former governor, this caucus has not deemed it fit to pay a condolence visit to his family, but yet they claim to now love him in death more than when he was alive. What was the role of the caucus during the inglorious days of thick politics that nearly brought down our state last year? How many letters did we write to the president to save the state from those who deliberately clogged it?’
When reached for comment, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, opted not to provide a statement regarding the issue.
However, Deputy Governor Adelami has denied the accusation that he was an adversary of the late Governor Akeredolu.
As per a statement by Mr. John Paul Akinduro, the Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Adelami described the allegation as malicious and baseless, coming from the accusers.
The statement read partly, ‘Chief Adelami was never an enemy of the late governor nor any other political player in Ondo State or elsewhere. The deputy governor is a decent politician and philanthropist with a verifiable track record.’
‘It is instructive to note that Chief Adelami has always been a strong member of the APC and staunch supporter and dependable ally of late Governor Akeredolu for eons.’
It was also mentioned in the statement that the deputy governor had provided moral, political, and financial assistance to the late governor during the election campaigns, which contributed to his success in securing both his first and second terms in office. Furthermore, it was noted that the deputy governor continued to offer similar support throughout the governor’s tenure in Ondo State.