Fearing Arrest, Fmr Ondo Deputy Governor, Ajayi, Returns Official Vehicles |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

Hours after the Police gave him 48 hours to return Government vehicles which he took away at the end of his tenure, former deputy governor of Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi, has finally agreed to immediately return them. Before the ultimatum, Ajayi had refused to return the government vehicles in his custody, two months after leaving office.

Ajayi and some political appointees of the present administration had engaged in argument over the legality of holding on to the vehicles after expiration of his tenure. But the number of vehicles he claims he has with him, differs from what the Government claims. While he said two, the Government claims four.

Even then, the former Deputy Governor had insisted  he is constitutionally entitled to the two vehicles but government insisted  there is no provision under the law for ex-governors and their deputies in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, and an aide to the Governor, Seun Odebowale had called on the state police command to retrieve the vehicles through any means.

In a statement personally signed by the former Deputy Governor titlted “Much Ado About Nothing: The Ondo State Government Must Get Their House In Order,” he expressed his readiness to return the vehicles.

The statement reads, “Recall that in my farewell message to the good people of Ondo State, on 24th February,2021, I wished Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and his Deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa success in their administration.

“I stand by that; as a citizen of the state, it is in my interest and in the interest of all of us that this current administration demonstrates good governance, transparent policy making and effective change.

“Unfortunately members of the inner circle of the Governor have decided to prioritise their time to harass me on a number of issues, most  especially with regards to the return of vehicles.

“I had hoped these petty interactions would have ceased after the recent inauguration.

“To be clear – if the return of these two vehicles will make the administration focus more on the avalanche of pressing needs, challenges and predicaments facing the state most especially insecurity,  the absence of governance and unpaid salaries across the entirety the Ondo public sector,  then I’m ready to make the sacrifice and return the two vehicles which they so desperately need.

“I am not the problem of the present administration.

I have moved on.

Once again, I wish Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN and his Deputy Lucky Ayedatiwa Success in their administration.”