- Aiyedatiwa allegedly approves N300m from N2bn palliative fund for bulletproof jeep for personal use
- Ondo Assembly begins impeachment actions against Deputy Governor
- Femi Agagu may replace Aiyedatiwa
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
The loyalty battle between the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has worsened as the state lawmakers on Wednesday began impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor.
This is despite denial by the lawmakers that there were no plans to impeach Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa last week said he would not resign from the administration of Governor Akeredolu.
He urged the lawmakers to disregard any letter in circulation indicating that he has resigned.
The Deputy Governor said he swore to defend the Constitution and that he has a four-year mandate.
However, in a twist, the lawmaker summoned an emergency plenary on Wednesday.
The road leading to the Assembly complex was filled with security agencies.
Some stern-looking boys stationed at the gate searched all vehicles going in and out of the Assembly.
It was gathered that 23 out of the 26 lawmakers have already signed the impeachment notice on the Deputy Governor.
At the plenary, a petition signed by nine lawmakers was presented before the lawmakers.
The Majority Leader of the Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, moved the motion on the need for the Assembly to abide by Section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution by informing Aiyedatiwa of the ‘gross allegations’ against him.
He said, “I rise to move a motion of allegation of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. I hereby move a motion that this House shall write to the Deputy Governor on the allegations against him.”
A People’s Democratic Party’s lawmaker, Tope Angbulu, representing Akoko South West Constituency II seconded the motion.
The Speaker, Olamide Oladiji stated that, “The motion has been moved and duly seconded according to Section 188 that this House should do the needful on allegations of misconduct against Aiyedatiwa.”
Consequently, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to write the Deputy Governor on the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him.
It was gathered that the Deputy Governor was being investigated for alleged gross misuse of office, especially allegedly approving N300 million for the purchase of a bulletproof SUV for personal use.
The money was allegedly approved when Governor Akeredolu was recuperating in Germany.
A source said Aiyedatiwa ordered the N300 million to be sourced from the palliative fund provided by the Federal Government to support poor citizens.
A lawmaker who pleaded for secrecy said the impeachment proceedings underscore the Assembly’s commitment to accountability, even at the highest level of state governance.
Aiyedatiwa fell out with Governor Akeredolu shortly after the governor travelled to Ibadan for rest before jetting out for medical vacation that lasted three months.
He was alleged to have begun mobilising some cabinet members to back him in case the Governor did not make it back alive.
The Point gathered on Wednesday that Aiyedatiwa may be shown the way out of the Alagbaka Government House any time from now if nothing is done to repair his relationship with his boss.
“Before now, Akeredolu was fond of making public shows of his love for Aiyedatiwa because of the trust he had in his deputy. But the uncontrolled ambition of Aiyedatiwa to become governor was the destroyer of Akeredolu’s trust in him.
“I don’t think Governor Akeredolu is a lucky person in terms of choosing his deputy. His former deputy, Agboola Ajayi, was not loyal to him because that one was totally controlled by his ambition to occupy the governor’s seat.
“The governor thought Aiyedatiwa would be different. But no, he is not different. I may not be wrong if I say that he is worse than Agboola. He thought Akeredolu would die and because of that, he started plotting against his boss.
“What is happening to Akeredolu is not different from what the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin experienced in the hands of his deputy, Akin Omoboriowo, when he was the governor of the old Ondo State,” the source lamented.
It was further learnt that some aides of Akeredolu told Aiyedatiwa that there was no way the governor could survive his ill-health.
Based on the information, it was gathered that the Deputy Governor started organising meetings with some cabinet members where positions were shared in anticipation of Akeredolu’s death.
According to our source, there was a Judas in the team who always related the proceedings of the meetings to Akeredolu.
“It was some domestic aides of Governor Akeredolu who told Aiyedatiwa that the governor would die considering his doctor’s report. They encouraged him to start seeing himself as the next governor.
“But the Deputy Governor failed to realize that the way of man is totally different from that of God. He did not wait for his boss to die before scheming for the gubernatorial seat.
“He held several meetings with some cabinet members who also shared the belief with him that Aketi could not make it. They had shared positions.
“The most surprising thing is that the governor’s Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale, could be involved in such a plan. He wanted to become Secretary to the State Government. That guy from Ilara-Mokin wanted to be Deputy Governor?
“What they did not realize was that someone among them was relating everything to the governor. They wrongly thought Akeredolu was incapacitated and that he didn’t know anything. But he had his ways of monitoring everything and getting information,” one of our sources said.
He added that “It was also known to the governor that all the media attacks on him were the handiwork of his deputy. There was a time Aiyedatiwa and his team approached the state chapter of the Social Democratic Party to do the work for them.
“All the statements issued by the party against Akeredolu were sponsored by the Deputy Governor. They tried initially to get the PDP to do the media attacks for them. But the party declined. Akeredolu was aware of all these. Akeredolu survived his ill-treatment and returned to the country. Since his return, Akeredolu has been proving that he is fully in charge of his government.”
Last week , he sacked all the media aides of the Deputy Governor, a development that observers believed was an indication of what should be expected from the governor in a couple of days.
It was gathered that the Deputy Governor was nearly prevented from entering Akeredolu’s house in Ibadan penultimate Friday.
Sources said it was the intervention of the governor that ensured that the gate of his house was opened for his deputy.
The Point gathered that a Deputy Governor-designate may be waiting.
He is Femi Agagu, the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology.
He was a former Chief of Staff to the late former Governor Olusegun Agagu.
“He is the one carrying out the function of a Deputy Governor now,” the source said.
