TWO weeks after Honourable Lucky Ayedatiwa recently took over the mantle of leadership as the acting governor of Ondo State, HAKEEM GBADAMOSI, writes on some undercurrents within the political space in the state, especially in both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
With the transmission of power to the Ondo State deputy governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa as the acting governor by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is currently on a medical leave in Germany, the power struggle in the state is far from over, especially over the ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the governorship election slated for November 2024. Quite a number of stalwarts of the party have stepped up horse-trading in the bid to become the candidate of the APC for the poll.
In the permutations of some close observers of the politics of the state, the next few months could be challenging, with major consequences not only for the ruling party but also for the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This is due to high stake the election represents for the Sunshine state.
Akeredolu’s health had been an issue and this prevented politicians eyeing Akeredolu’s seat, including Ayedatiwa, from going all-out in campaigns. Akeredolu’s return to the country in September seemed to change nothing as he never returned to the state, directing affairs of the state from his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. This development created mutual suspicion and tension in certain circles in the state until President Bola Tinubu intervened and power was transmitted to Ayedatiwa pending the return of the state governor.
Ayedatiwa has taken over in acting capacity, but with the governorship primary of the party just four months away, he appears caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. He is torn in between giving the state the best within a short period in terms of governance to make a positive impact and oiling his political machinery to emerge as Akeredolu’s successor. Ayedatiwa, who survived an impeachment onslaught before Tinubu’s intervention, swung into action immediately the State House of Assembly confirmed him as the acting governor of the state, marking his resumption with a state broadcast, admitting that the political impasse in the state was heightened by political actors within and outside the state. He argued that the intrigues that ensued over Akeredolu’s health challenges were avoidable distractions.
The acting governor, however, noted that the state needed a renewed unity to berth the significant and accelerated development envisioned and vigorously pursued by Akeredolu. He held that what happened in the past was a temporary delay in the state’s democratic journey. He said: “Only God Almighty has explanations for what happened in the last few months. When nature sets in to hinder human performance, it is always a painful thing. We must acknowledge that the key to the well-being of a man is in the hands of God. It is not for us as humans to question God but to pray for His mercies upon our lives. It is in this regard that we admit with all sense of responsibility that the intrigues that ensued due to Mr Governor’s health challenges were indeed avoidable distractions. We ought to have done better so as to keep giving Ondo State the seamless and solid governance which governor Rotimi Akeredolu, had established in the state in the last six-and-a-half years.
“As a government, we must appreciate the sovereignty of the people that voted us into office and we regret, in no unmistakable terms, the toll which this whole episode had inflicted on the psyche of the people and the development of the State. Despite all these, my dear people, I come to you today, to urge you all not to relent, as you have always done, in your prayers for the quick restoration of good health and strength to our leader, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu. The events, which have culminated in today’s address is a watershed in the annals of our experience as a people. It is not a moment of celebration, but a moment of sober reflection; a moment for us to really appreciate the collective burden of moving our state forward. The events of the past months have indeed challenged our love for our state and indeed democracy which we all profess.”
It is apparent that Aiyedatiwa is concerned with how the state could quickly recover some lost ground following the frictions that trailed the issue of leadership in the state. So, he has stressed the need for the state to return quickly to the path of accelerated progress, calling on political actors to excuse unnecessary distractions.
He said: “We can no longer be separated in interest or divided in purpose. We must stand together until the end. We must come back stronger and more determined to advance the welfare and security of our people, being the primary object of government as encapsulated in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended. Let us build a shared future from a divided past. We owe no less to the good people of the Sunshine state.”
The main opposition PDP has hailed the transmission of power to Ayedatiwa. It described the change of guard as long overdue, because, in its opinion, the state stagnated in the last six months due to the ill health of the governor. The PDP, through its state Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, urged Aiyedatiwa to swing into action and move the state forward. He said: “Akeredolu’s medical vacation is long overdue, l don’t know why they waited this long to do this. The Ondo State is already the butt of every joke. Let’s pray that things will at least move in the state instead of the stagnation witnessed in the last six months.”
But less than 12 hours after the broadcast, there were issues over an alleged directive from Ayedatiwa, freezing all the 18 local government area councils accounts, with immediate effect. The directive, informed all Head of Local Government Administration to suspend all spending and expenditure from local government accounts, while all the accounts remain frozen. The memo read: “Distinguished HOLGAs, Your Excellency, the Acting Governor of Ondo state had directed that all spending/ expenditure from local government account should be suspended, no signing of cheques, no change of signatories, no withdrawal of any sort until further directive. Please adhere strictly to instruction and be guided.”
Also the acting governor was said to have suspended the Chief of Protocol to Akeredolu, Bola Alabi, who was said to have been asked to step aside. In a circular sent to all the concerned departments in the state with the title ‘Preparation of the acting governor’s engagements’, that reads: “The acting governor of Ondo State, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed to inform all members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries that the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor will be responsible for the preparation and signing of his official engagements for the time being. “The Chief of Protocol (Mr Bola Alabi) will take charge of this responsibility as soon as Mr Governor resumes from his medical vacation. Kindly take note for your guidance and co-operation from time to time.”
The state commissioner for Information and orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola Olateju, however denied the freezing of accounts of all the local government and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state, and the sacking of Akeredolu’s Chief of Protocol, describing the reports as not only false but also misleading. Ademola-Olateju, who said there was never a time the acting governor, Honourable Lucky Ayedatiwa or any government functionary issue such a directive, said the news of the sack of Akeredolu’s CoP was designed to embarrass the state government, maintaining that the information is fake and baseless and called on the people of the state, especially the local government officials to disregard it. Ademola-Olateju said: “The news going round some old and new media platforms that the acting governor, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa has put a freeze on local government accounts in the state is false and misleading. At no time has the acting governor or any functionary of the state put a freeze on local government accounts or order any closure. This information is fake and baseless. We ask that the good people of Ondo State, particularly officials of local governments to disregard the rumour. Necessary complimentary personnel/civil servants have been deployed to the LCDA(s) and they have been advised to exercise due diligence and processes in their operations by the government”
“The state government is committed to the proper functioning of the new thirty-three LCDA(s) and the existing 18 Local Government Area in the state as a way of enhancing development at the grassroots.
“Also, our attention has been drawn to the social media misrepresentation of our circular letter No. FAD/DG.156/98 of 14th December 2023 in respect of the Preparation of the acting governor’s engagement, which has been mischievously reported to the effect that the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, Mr Bola Alabi, has been placed on suspension. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Chief of Protocol to Mr Governor has not been placed on suspension by the Acting Governor nor by any person..It should be noted that the schedule for the preparation of Mr Governor’s engagements is less than two per cent of the CoP’s responsibilities.
“Usually, suspension from duty would have warranted removal of salary and privileges, which does not happen in this case. As we speak, Mr. Bola Alabi is busy with Mr Governor. Nevertheless, His Excellency, the Acting Governor, Honourable Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is prepared, where necessary, to make changes that would guarantee the effective running of the administration. Again, the public is implored to always confirm the veracity of every piece of information/news in respect of the Ondo State Government from appropriate quarters before dissemination.”
The dust over the purported freezing of the local council accounts had hardly settled when the rumour and speculation spread across the state that the acting governor is planning to reshuffle the cabinet to favour his supporters within the State Executive Council. Though there was no official confirmation on the plan to reshuffle the cabinet, but the expectations of those who are sympathetic to Ayedatiwa are high that a new change is imminent soon.
One of the state functions performed as the Acting governor of the state is the presentation of a budget proposal of N384.533billion for the 2024 fiscal year tagged “Budget of Economic Resilience” to the state House of Assembly. Though, the people of the state hailed the budget but said it is not a yardstick to access the acting governor, while they demanded for more life changing policies
Some main stakeholders in the state have been commenting on the series of events that have taken place since the deputy governor became the acting governor of the state. Some have called for caution the party of Aiyedatiwa over state matters so that he does not rock the boat. For instance, a lawyer and chieftain of APC in the state, Mr Sola Ajisafe, warned and appealed against cabinet reshuffle in the state. He believes that such step could be seen to undermine Akeredolu, who is recuperating in an undisclosed hospital abroad. While participating in a radio programme in the state, Ajisafe alleged that information at his disposal indicated that the acting governor would soon redeploy the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu to the Ministry of Commerce while the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa would be posted to Culture and Tourism. According to the APC Chieftain, such action is contrary to the 1999 Constitution and against the agreement reached with President Tinubu during the peace meeting held in Abuja. He said: “Section 190 of the Constitution did not give the deputy governor the power to reshuffle the cabinet. The section gives the acting governor to right to act on behalf of the governor not to override the decisions of the governor. There can’t be two governors at the same time.”
There was no official response to the speculation; mum is the word in the acting governor’s camp on the insinuation. But a source close to the camp said Ayedatiwa was preoccupied with how to make a positive impact in the state and will not be distracted by a mere rumour.
Posers
Meanwhile, some pundits noted that the eight-month political battle and differences between Akeredolu and Ayedatiwa has only been put in abeyance. According to them, this is because the root cause of the faceoff was about the 2024 governorship primary of the APC. They are of the view that members of the State Executive loyal to Akeredolu remained intact and resolute in their support for the governor and will be rooting for any candidate with Akeredolu’s blessing. They claimed that politicians and members of the cabinet loyal to Ayedatiwa had formed a ring within government circle, while those loyal to Akeredolu are on guard. To them, the State Executive is divided already as no fewer than three or four members have openly declared their interest in succeeding Akeredolu.
The analysts predicted that the real drama will be unveiled in no distance period when the APC primaries is declared open. They expressed the fears and worries of political gladiators that with Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor, the primary might not come so easily. This is said to be causing anxiety and uncertainty in various camps.
Nonetheless, the real game is yet to start with more political gladiators throwing their hats into the ring. Some APC members who had shown interest in the race include: the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akiterinwa; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu, Chief Olusola Oke (SAN), South-West APC vice chairman, Honourable Isaacs Kekemeke. Others are: Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, a former member of NDDC, Honourable Gbenga Edema, Executive Director Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Ife Oyedele, a former Ambassador, Olusola Iji, House of Representatives’ member, Honourable Jimi Odimayo, among others.
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