By Ayodele Oni, Akure
Ondo state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has beheaded the ambition of his Deputy Governor, Mr.Agboola Ajayi, to be addressed as the Acting Governor of the State.
Akeredolu had, a few days ago, tested positive for COVID-19, and went into self isolation.
Just before this, his Deputy, Ajayi, with whom he has had a difficult relationship, had quit their party, the APC, and declared for the opposition PDP, but refused to quit his office as DG. He has picked the Governorship aspirant form to run under the PDP.
In the aftermath of his COVID-19 status, the Governor had, naturally, said he would not hand over to the DG, dismissing such action as suicidal.
But while many aspirants, including those of the opposition parties who will slug it out with the Governor for the ticket and seat, sent a get-well-quick message to him, Ajayi had, on Saturday, given him an ultimatum to hand over the reigns of government to him within 21 days.
But Akeredolu has beaten the Virus. He has tested negative to the disease.
In a state-wide broadcast on Monday he said that after spending days in isolation and, running the test twice, Doctors have confirmed him negative.
The result came five days after he tested positive to COVID-19. It is one of the fastest recoveries in the country.
Akeredolu urged residents of the state to always take precautions against the dreaded virus.
He said despite the challenges ,Government will continue to sustain effort to contain the menace.
Meanwhile, his embattled deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi has denied planning to run down the state by planning protests in Akure and Abuja to compel the governor to hand over to him.
Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Mr Tope Okeowo, in a statement on Monday in Akure described the allegation as “untrue reckless and provocative as it represents an orchestrated attempt by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s government to portray the deputy governor as a man desperate for power.
