Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has clandestinely reappointed the aides sacked by his predecessor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu worsening the crisis of confidence between the governor and his late predecessor.
Akeredolu had sacked media aides of his erstwhile deputy and disbanded the media team attached to the Deputy Governor who is now the governor after the late governor returned from a medical leave from Germany over act of insubordination and other sundry allegations.
The affected aides include Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to Governor (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Abayomi Samson Adefolalu.
Among several other offences, the aides were sacked following alleged insubordination and flagrance disregard to the appropriate authority, while one of the aides allegedly abused the governor on his WhatsApp status. The screenshot of the effensive post was reportedly shown to the late governor and members of his close caucus.
However, a group, Ondo State Redemption Initiative (OSRI) accused Aiyedatiwa of destroying the legacies of Akeredolu by appointing the late governor’s enemies and those who have become sworn enemies of the late governor into his cabinet.
The group, in a statement by its President, Pastor Adebayo Ogunsanmi, Secretary, Jide Oriola, and Publicity Secretary, Sunday Ayeni said Aiyedatiwa’s reappointment of the media aides without announcing it to the world showed his disdain for the late governor.
Governor Aiyedatiwa had earlier appointed Omowumi Isaac , earlier sacked by Akeredolu as the likely commissioner for Finance. He had also appointed Akin Sowore, Rasaq Obe and Gbenga Omole who had fallen out with Akeredolu before his death into his government, the development that made some leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) accused Aiyedatiwa of appointing enemies of Akeredolu into his government.
The group queried why the governor has not officially announced the names of his new appointees. The group said Aiyedatiwa has also surreptitiously appointed People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members into his government.
According to the group, Aiyedatiwa has brought those who showed act of disloyalty to Akeredolu to his government and deliberately showed disdain to the APC leadership in the State while hobnobbing with PDP leaders including former Governor Olusegun Mimiko.
The group said the appointments of Mr John Paul Akinduro, media aide to Mimiko as Chief Press Secretary to his Deputy, Dr. Olayide Adelami and Mr Tayo Oluyi, a PDP leader in Akure South local government showed that the opposition party has taken over the APC’s government through the backdoor.
The group pointed out that these appointments are reward of treachery and clandestine displayed by the new appointees during his struggle with the late governor.
They said ” Your appointments are purely for people who attacked Akeredolu till the very end. You disowned the activities of your media aides when they were suspended, yet you have reappointed them.
“It has become evident that those who aligned themselves with Aiyedatiwa in his relentless campaign against Akeredolu until the very end are now being rewarded for their heartless actions.
“Recently, a clandestine display of treachery unfolded within the state’s corridors of power. Were it not for the far-reaching influence of social media, we would have remained oblivious to the distribution of appointments among those who assisted Mr. Aiyedatiwa in his relentless battle against Akeredolu.
“Not too long ago, we bore witness to the elevation of individuals who were willing to turn day to night during the health crisis that befell the former governor. They cunningly presented themselves as ardent champions of the state and its people, yet unbeknownst to us, their motives were purely self-serving.”
However reacting to similar allegation recently, the State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa faulted the claims, noting that he reserves the right to appoint whoever he wishes.
Aiyedatiwa speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan said, “the Governor reserves the right to appoint whoever he wants to work with into his cabinet.
“This sponsored junk is coming from the same set of people who complained when the cabinet was dissolved and said he should have retained the Exco.
“There are no enemies of Akeredolu in the appointments made by the Governor and those who have made themselves professional complainants should find a better job to do. Mr. Governor has a duty to run this State and he’s doing just that.”
