Facts have emerged regarding why loyalists of the ailing Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, are desperate to remove his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, from office.
QUEST TIMES gathered that this is primarily due to Akeredolu’s worsening health condition, which they believe the deputy may benefit from, especially in next year’s gubernatorial election.
Aiyedatiwa, who is currently fighting to save his job following the decision of the Ondo State House of Assembly to impeach him, became deputy governor after Akeredolu selected him as his running mate in July 2020.
Speaking about why he chose Aiyedatiwa, Akeredolu disclosed that hard work and loyalty were the main reasons behind his decision, stating that Aiyedatiwa displayed unwavering commitment and support for his political aspirations from the beginning.
However, just as it happened with Agboola Ajayi, Akeredolu’s deputy during his first term, things have fallen apart between the two men, and the center can no longer hold.
Upon returning from his medical trip to Germany, Akeredolu dismissed all the media aides of the deputy governor, while the state’s lawmakers, purportedly acting on the governor’s orders, have served him an impeachment notice.
Several aides of the governor also accused Aiyedatiwa of disloyalty, alleging that he betrayed the trust the governor had in him.
Speaking with QUEST TIMES, a senior government official and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party in the state, said the major factor behind the plot to remove Aiyedatiwa has to do with Akeredolu’s state of health and the upcoming gubernatorial election in the state, which has been scheduled for November 16, 2024.
Our source said Akeredolu’s loyalists believe that “It is primarily about the governor’s health. It has been widely reported that the governor is suffering from leukemia (blood cancer). While many are praying for his recovery, there is this fear that the ailment is terminal, and the governor may not fully recover from it. In fact, some of them thought he would not return, but miraculously, he did.”
“Since the governor came back from Germany on September 7, he has been recuperating in Ibadan and has not resumed his office in Alagbaka, in Akure. The governor is not fully fit. He was forced to return by those who wanted to restrain Aiyedatiwa and have him removed.”
“Their belief is that if anything happens to Akeredolu, whoever is the deputy governor will be the major beneficiary and will have an advantage in next year’s gubernatorial election. They don’t want Aiyedatiwa, and that’s why they are trying to force him to resign or be impeached.”
QUEST TIMES also gathered that the embattled deputy governor is not leaving anything to chance. Aside from approaching the court to halt the impeachment process, he has vowed not to resign and has been reaching out to power brokers in the presidency to persuade Akeredolu to pardon him