- Aiyedatiwa not fighting late gov’s loyalists – Campaign Group
The Ondo State APC Caucus in the House of Representatives has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help save the legacies of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, while accusing the governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of undermining the interest of the party in the state.
However, the Mainstream support group for Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS) on Friday described as highly disappointing, an accusation by six federal lawmakers from the state, that the governor was sidelining loyalists to his former boss, the late former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
In an open letter to the President signed by six of the APC members from the state, they alleged that Governor Aiyedatiwa was working to undo all that the late governor did in the state while working with his political enemies to undermine him even in death.
The lawmakers said against the agreement reached with the President before the death of Akeredolu that the local government and state Executive Council should not be dissolved, the governor went ahead to dissolve these bodies without giving them the opportunity to pay their last respect to the late Governor.
The Ondo State APC Caucus while expressing gratitude for the president’s steadfast leadership and commitment to the progress of Nigeria, said the purpose of the letter was to highlight the concerns shared by members of the party in Ondo State and therefore urged the president to address the issues raised promptly to ensure the stability and prosperity of our state.
In the letter, the group drew Mr. President’s attention to what they described as an unfortunate lack of respect displayed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa towards the late former Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The group accused Aiyedatiwa of transforming a solemn occasion, such as his swearing-in ceremony, into a festive and joyous celebration.
“To make matters worse, he even exclaimed “Aku Orire” (congratulations to us) during the swearing-in. This action demonstrated a clear lack of sensitivity and callousness. It is important to note that the swearing-in took place barely eight hours after the announcement of Akeredolu’s passing. This revealed the depth of Mr. Aiyedatiwa’s perfidious demeanor.
“Sir, it is truly shocking that what should have been a solemn swearing-in event was instead, turned into an opportunity to celebrate a perceived “victory,” where those who remained loyal to the late Akeredolu were insulted and embarrassed right inside the hall where the event took place to the admiration and silent acquiescence of Governor Aiyedatiwa.
“Since his swearing-in as Governor, Mr. Aiyedatiwa has made a series of decisions that indicate his animosity towards the late Governor and his lack of concern for the party’s growth in the state. Mr. President, you would be surprised to learn that Mr. Aiyedatiwa has been associating with staunch political enemies of the late Akeredolu and even cozying up to the opposition party.
“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.
“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. The reasoning and strategy behind this overt political move remain incomprehensible.”
The members of the caucus are Adesida Abiodun Cornelius Aderin (Akure North/South); Timehin Adelegbe (Owo/Ose); Festus Adefiranye Ayodele (Ileoluji- Okeigbo/Odigbo); Ojogo Donald Kimikanboh(Ilaje/ Ese- Odo), Odimayo Okunjimi John (Okitipupa/Irele); and Adegboyega Adefarati (Akoko south West/ South East).
Aiyedatiwa not fighting late gov’s loyalists
Reacting to allegations leveled against the Ondo governor, LACO-FS in a statement by its Director-General, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, described the accusation as a sheer concoction, composed only of falsehood.
In the statement issued through the State Director of Information, Mr. Kayode Fasua, Ogunleye, urged the six APC lawmakers “not to stand the truth on the head in the name of a political game; knowing deeply within them that the accusation against Mr. Governor is sheer concoction, composed only by falsehood.
“The leadership of the House of Assembly which came into being in the Akeredolu era, led by Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji and the deputy speaker is in place and there has been a cordial relationship between the legislative and executive arm under Governor Aiyedatiwa.”
Besides, Yusuf-Ogunleye remarked that while Aiyedatiwa recently dissolved his cabinet to re-jig his new administration, eight out of the nine commissioners and special advisers just nominated, served under Governor Rotimi Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa administration.
He cited those concerned to include Mr. Igbasan, a two-term commissioner for Budget and Planning under Akeredolu; Mr Oseni Olaniyi, former Special Adviser on Environment; Mrs Olamide Falana, Special Adviser on Gender; Mr. Akin Sowore, former Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, and Engnr. Razaq Obe, former Commissioner for Energy.
He also sneered at the aggrieved lawmakers for describing the new Ondo State deputy governor, Mr. Olayide Adelami as Akeredolu’s arch-enemy, wondering if Adelami who had donated his building for Akeredolu’s governorship campaigns could be classified as the late former governor’s enemy, much less an arch-enemy.
“Again, where were these federal lawmakers when one of them in the House of Reps started campaigning for Governor immediately after the death of Akeredolu?
“Same way, where were these lawmakers when some cabinet members in cahoot with some lawmakers were trying to impeach Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa as he then was?” he asked.
Yusuf-Ogunleye thus urged the federal lawmakers not to allow themselves to be used to feather the nest of any governorship aspirant ahead of the coming APC primaries but to team up with the governor to promote good governance in the state, in this critical time.
“We want to urge our brothers in the House of Representatives to return home and align with their subjects and the electorate that voted for them, instead of staying in Abuja to write based on hearsay.
“If the governor is not in tune with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker widely believed to be die-hard Akeredolu loyalists, could he have released brand new official jeep to them each only last week, just to enhance their legislative functions?
“Aiyedatiwa, unknown to them, does not keep malice as they imagine or probably do,” Yusuf-Ogunleye quipped.
The LACO-FS D-G however, noted that under Governor Aiyedatiwa, the APC structure in Ondo State had been strengthened and the leadership of the party under Engr Ade Adetimehin a few days ago, met with Governor Aiyedatiwa for interactions.
He added that under Aiyedatiwa, people are trooping to the APC in thousands, which the party chairman himself can attest to, thus contradicting insinuations by the lawmakers that Aiyedatiwa was sinking the party.
“It is also on record that major appointees of the late former Governor had met with the governor, pledging their loyalty and more interesting are now leaders of Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers which is being coordinated by myself, Akeredolu’s former commissioner for works and infrastructure,” Yusuf-Ogunleye countered.
