By Adekola Afolabi

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The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday tendered unreserved apology to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, over the political imbroglio in the state.

 According to him, political actors  took advantage of the absence of the governor during his medical vacation to create a non-existent crisis for their own selfish interests.

The Deputy Governor, however, said he is deeply saddened by the embarrassment and discomfort that Mr. Governor has faced due to the barrage of negative news in the State as a result of the events of the last few months.

But in a swift reaction, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr Doyin Odebowale said Governor Akeredolu does not meddle in the affairs of the State House of Assembly.

He said ‘Our attention has just been drawn to the press conference addressed by the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and we hasten to make clarifications as regards certain assertions contained therein.

 “While Mr Governor may not be averse to embracing, cautiously, any seeming overtures impelled by genuine contriteness, making the following clarifications become pertinent.

 Addressing journalists in his office, Aiyedatiwa explained that there has never been any issue between him and his principal, noting that it has been a worthwhile experience working with Governor Akeredolu for the benefit of the good people of the State. 

According to him, political actors only took advantage of the absence of the governor during his medical vacation to create a non-existent crisis for their own selfish interests.

The Deputy Governor, however, said he is deeply saddened by the embarrassment and discomfort that Mr. Governor has faced due to the barrage of negative news in the State as a result of the events of the last few months.

He disclosed that he has, however, learned his lessons from all the happenings.

While pledging his unwavering loyalty to the Governor, Aiyedatiwa also promised to continue to submit himself under his able, courageous and selfless leadership.

“Our beloved State has witnessed a series of events triggered by the health challenges faced by Mr. Governor which gave rise to a lot of assumptions, falsehoods, insinuations, misunderstandings, misconceptions, and exploitation by political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election in the state.

“We have continued to read in the media, all sorts of lies fabricated to create crisis just for the purpose of election. The recent impeachment attempt by the House of Assembly and the ensuing reactions have further created division and chaos, with my loyalty to Mr. Governor being questioned.

“Let me say it here that I am profoundly grateful to Mr. Governor for his intervention and role in persuading the distinguished members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered by our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the face of the impeachment move. 

“It is in reference to all of the above that I tender my unreserved apologies to Mr. Governor for the embarrassment and discomfort that the political chaos of these past months has caused him and the good people of Ondo State.

“I remain fully committed to the principles of good governance that Mr. Governor has established, and I pledge my unwavering loyalty to him and I will continue to submit myself under his able, courageous and selfless leadership.

“I completely distance myself from any group or individuals holding protests or calling on the Governor to resign. I have never commissioned any individual or group to engage in such protest or campaign.

“I wish to thank the national leadership of our great party, APC, for the intervention on the impeachment move against me while I also pledge my commitment to the reconciliation efforts aimed at restoring peace in the state.

However, Odebowale said: “There has never been any time when the Governor “persuaded” the “distinguished members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered” by the All Progressives Congress (APC), “in the face of an impeachment move against” the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The Governor, a Senior Advocate of over two decades, possesses a deep understanding of constitutional democracy. Any snide suggestion of meddlesomeness in the business of the second arm of government by the Governor is repudiated with vehemence. Mr Governor cannot descend too low.

“It is interesting to read that the Deputy Governor also distanced himself from all groups and platforms notorious for maligning the Governor, members of his family and all those perceived as his close allies and supporters, in recent times. More instructive is the unfortunate reference made to “a series of events triggered by the health challenges faced by Mr Governor, which gave rise to misunderstandings, misconceptions, assumptions, and insinuations, and exploited by political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election”.

“The good people of Ondo State are too discerning to be hoodwinked with dissembling equivocation. Keen observers of events, as they have been unfolding in the State, cannot miss the import of the malicious intents, insensitive posturing and diabolical projections of the last six months in the Government of the Sunshine State.