Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has urged the Luwoye Ruling House of Erekiti Community to show proof that his Deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, demanded bribe to impose a king in the community.
Aiyedatiwa, who threatened to institute legal action against the family, demanded an apology from the family.
The governor said his administration has remained consistent in not imposing anybody as king in any community and would not do so for Erekiti’s vacant stool.
He said this administration would succumb to any cheap blackmail and attempt to malign the good names of his Deputy.
In a statement by the Head of the Media and Publicity Unit of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Abooluwa Famakinwa,
Aiyedatiwa said the publication was an abuse of the good intent and political will of his administration to assist communities fill their vacant stools.
He said his Deputy and the Commissioner were perfect gentlemen with clean track records, proven integrity, and good reputations that traditional authorities in the State could testify to.
The statement reads in part: “It is on record that they neither receive thank-you gifts nor were ever involved in any bribery allegations.”
“We also want to state that the re-appointment of Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro was a result of the confidence reposed in him by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Obas in the State.”
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“We, therefore, give the publisher of the malicious story seven days to either come forth publicly with evidence or retract the story and apologise publicity, in at least two national dailies or face the full wrath of the law.
“Those upholding the claim for three Ruling houses have come forth with documents to substantiate their claim but the Luwoye Ruling house, instead of coming up with documents to substantiate their claim has resulted in cheap blackmail and maligning the images, reputation, and names of the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Olajide Owolabi Adelami, mni and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro.”
“Government takes exception to this insensitivity and abuse of opportunity by the Luwoye Ruling House and demand that they right the wrong done by this publication.”