By Ayodele Oni
Since providence conferred on him the governorship of Ondo state following the demise of his boss, late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, one would have expected that the Cabals that had wanted to put an end to his political career will by now go and rest.
Akeredolu died on 27th December last year in far away Germany after several months of battling with cancer. His death came after applying for medical leave from the state House of Assembly for the second time and constitutionally transmitted power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
His first medical leave, which the late Governor got and Aiyedatiwa acting in his absence from April to September last year, witnessed the worst ever political crisis in Ondo state. Intrigues here and there by those that were not comfortable with Aiyedatiwa as acting governor.
The political intrigues piqued when the state assembly joined and forwarded a letter of impeachment to the acting governor with spurious and unsubstantiated allegations. Thank God, the elder in the state led by the revered Pa Reuben Fasoranti, intervened and called on President Bola Tinubu to wade in.
The call worked as President Tinubu immediately summoned parties in the crisis to Abuja where major decisions and orders were handed down and the tension went down drastically. It will be of interest that those undermining the power of Aiyedatiwa were mainly political office holders that believed that their loyalty was only to the then ailing Governor Akeredolu.
They did not see anything good in Aiyedatiwa. He would summon the state executive council meeting, they would not attend but would instead ran down to Ibadan, Oyo state where Akeredolu was repercurating then to tell various lies against the acting governor.
From accolades, condolence messages which trailed the demise, of Akeredolu, there is no doubt that he was loved by all within and outside the state. Everybody loved that he got over the cancerous situation and report back to his duty post. But who are we to query God?
Yes, Akeredolu is no more, but his good works will continue to speak for him. Aiyedatiwa was on the same day sworn in as the substantive governor of Ondo state in line with the constitutional provisions which gives room for no vacuum.
His inaugural speech captured the situation on ground as he not only promised to continue with the good works of his former boss, he equally assured of more dividends of democracy.
“The demise of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON is indeed a great loss to me as an individual as our relationship dated back to many years ago, having closely worked with him when his gubernatorial journey started in Year 2012.
“The loss then did not affect our relationship as we continued to maintain close political and personal relationship which climaxed in Year 2020 when he graciously picked me as his running mate for his Second Term as Governor of Ondo State.
“Governor Akeredolu was a man of courage and conviction who always stood for the truth even at his own detriment. I remember vividly during the time when we had a case in court challenging our Second Term victory.
“He still pursued the matter of emplacing a strong security network for the people of the Southwest codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’.
“The People of Ondo State and the entire people of the Southwest will be eternally grateful for this bold act which has greatly improved the security architecture in the Region and reduced incidents of kidnapping, banditry and other acts of criminalities to the barest minimum especially in Ondo State.
“His many legacies in the health sector, infrastructural development, education, industrial development as symbolised in the Ondo-Linyl Industrial Hub, Ore, his innovation in Ondo State Entrepreneurial Development Agency, his Tech Hub, etc will be difficult to surpass.
“The events which culminated in today’s ceremony is a watershed in the history of Ondo State as this is the first time we are having a transition in an administration.”
Just still trying to settle down for business, Governor Aiyedatiwa is confronted with the challenge of picking his deputy. While still shopping for a credible and reliable candidate, groups, individuals and political appointees came up with names and zones where the deputy should come from. All these can still be regarded as part of the politics. But how do we describe a situation whereby the Governor is being compelled or mandated to pick from a particular town and a specific person in memory of his late boss?
Those appointees that know within themselves that they would not fit into the new administration resorted to the honourable path of throwing in the towel. Since they all resigned, the new governor has not sacked any political appointee of his predecessor.
Recount that when Agboola Ajayi, the first person that served late Akeredolu as deputy resigned, he jettisoned all advices even from his party and insisted on picking someone of his choice then which led to the emergence of Aiyedatiwa. One thing that is certain is that the new governor cannot pick from his senatorial zone, his can have his choice either from central or northern districts.
As this seems to be getting to a final solution, the hues and cries about the governor’s resolve to sack the leadership of the ruling APC in the state led by Ade Adetimehin becomes the talk of the town. This plan according to those behind it, is to pave the way for Aiyedatiwa’s emergence as the candidate for the APC during the governorship election slated for later in the year. His Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan has come out to deny this. Going by resolutions arrived at after the meeting with President Tinubu, although, Akeredolu was still alive then, Aiyedatiwa was told to leave the structures as they are presently.
Another issue being played up is that of the removal of members of the local governments care taker committees in the state. The glaring evidence here is that these people were sent packing by a court order before Aiyedatiwa’s emergence as governor, but as far as they are concerned, the hand is that of Esau.
He still has the power to pick those that will work with him, but definitely, he will like to keep distance with his perceived political foes that had almost prevented the God’s wish to manifest.
