Ondo in disarray as the Dep Gov allegedly moves against Akeredolu, and the exco is divided.

Members of the Ondo State Executive Council are in a state of tension as a result of rumours that the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is planning to run against his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, for the governorship seat. This comes after rumours that Governor Akeredolu may be suffering from ill health.

The governor is said to have become aware of the deputy governor’s alleged lack of loyalty and has grown increasingly uncomfortable with his purported ambition, according to sources within the cabinet. Also, the governor is said to have become aware of the deputy governor’s alleged ambition.

Despite the fact that the Deputy Governor has not yet made an official announcement of his intention to run for Governor in the upcoming elections in 2024, it has been reported that the campaign has already begun.

The first sign of trouble appeared after Akeredolu left for vacation and gave the deputy governor responsibility for running the governor’s office.

During the brief time that the deputy governor served as acting governor, there were allegations that he put his own interests ahead of those of the state and the governor.

In addition, some of the members of the executive council have levelled accusations against the deputy governor, saying that he was the one responsible for spreading lies about the governor’s health, which led to rumours that he had passed away.

The deputy governor is the one who started the rumours about the governor’s health, according to sources within the executive council who requested that their identities be kept secret due to the delicate nature of the matter.

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One of the members of the executive council stated unequivocally that Akeredolu’s health was not deteriorating, while at the same time expressing worry about the governor’s selection of deputy governors.

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“The Deputy Governor is the one who is behind all of these rumours that are going around. The truth of the matter is that following the Cabinet meeting that took place three weeks ago and the subsequent courtesy visits, the governor made the decision to take some time off in order to rest.

It has been suggested that the governor take some time out to deliberately relax and recharge. Therefore, the deputy governor paid him a visit to Ibadan while also bringing some documents with him. On the other hand, he did not make the governor or any of his closest advisors aware of his visit. As soon as they arrived in Ibadan, the governor signed the documents, and they were then given back to him. The governor, on the other hand, did not wait to speak with the deputy governor.

“Once he arrived back in Akure, he immediately began telling some of our other associates that the governor ought to transfer power to him. He went so far as to try to convince members of the executive committee to back his position.

“He purposefully began spreading these rumours about the governor’s health in order to win the sympathy and support of the general public. The deputy governor deceived us in this matter. We didn’t find out the truth until we took matters into our own hands and started communicating with the governor.

“On the previous Monday, the governor signed the salary for the month of May 2023. It should reassure you that the governor is in charge and actively involved in the process that they are actively involved in that the ministries are functioning. At the moment, he is frustrated and angry as a result of these untrue stories.

An insider in the government, on the other hand, claims that the deputy governor already has his supporters working within the cabinet.

“If they are successful in their attempt to oust the governor from office, the deputy governor has guaranteed one of the Commissioners that he will serve as the governor’s deputy. In addition to that, he made a commitment to appoint one more member of the cabinet to the position of Secretary to the State Government.

“Unfortunately, there are two Commissioners vying for the position of deputy governor in Aiyedatiwa. Both of them belong to the same party. In addition, a Special Adviser has sworn allegiance to the deputy governor as part of her plan to be nominated for the position of NDDC State Representative. This plot was devised by the deputy governor.

All of these individuals are currently cooperating with one another in their efforts to convince the governor to give more power to the deputy governor.

“The governor and the deputy governor got together for a meeting the week before last, and during that meeting, the governor signed several documents, one of which was the salary for the Local Government. Why would the deputy governor keep quiet while the media reported unfavourable things about his boss? the question begs to be answered. We are aware that he is accountable for them.

“In point of fact, he was convinced to issue a statement refuting these false reports; however, he decided against doing so. It is very upsetting to witness behaviour like this coming from a deputy governor that the governor personally selected for the position.

“In point of fact, he was encouraged to issue a statement disputing these made-up stories; however, he declined to do so. He said that it was “truly disappointing to witness such behaviour from someone who was handpicked by the governor and made deputy governor.” “It is truly disappointing to witness such behaviour from someone who was made deputy governor.”

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Kenneth Odusola, who serves as the press secretary for Aiyedatiwa, issued the following statement in response to the recent development: “this falsehood and its peddlers would have ordinarily been ignored at this time, but the need to stop further negative reports and rumours capable of creating needless tension in our state has necessitated this response.”

“The said allegation against the person of the deputy governor is a figment of the imagination of those behind it,” the statement continued. “Their ungodly intentions to cause crisis in the State had been known for weeks, and therefore such falsehood did not come as a surprise.”