The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, emphatically asserts that he maintained unwavering loyalty to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu during the entire duration of the governor’s medical leave in Germany.
Mr. Aiyedatiwa made this statement on Tuesday in response to allegations raised by certain reporters in a news report published on Monday.
Mr. Akeredolu resumed his official duties on Friday following a three-month-long medical treatment in Germany, during which time Mr. Aiyedatiwa served as the acting governor of the state.
The rumour that the deputy governor was ambitious gained prominence while uncertainty surrounded the governor’s health condition.
In his reaction to the allegation of disloyalty, Mr Aiyedatiwa, through a statement signed by his media aide, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, described it as lies.
In the statement, which was made available to journalists in Akure on Tuesday, Mr Odusola-Stevenson said the allegation was fabricated to dent the reputation of the deputy governor. X
“These lies would have been ignored but we owe it a duty to prevent the public from being deceived into believing the same falsehoods being repeated and recycled in different forms by those whose sole intention is to soil the image of the man who they see as a threat to their political interests,” he said.
“We need to remind the public that this is a continuation of the blackmail started by these same characters some months ago, with false stories planted in some media outlets against the Deputy Governor.
“However, since those lies did not yield the result they envisaged, the blackmailers have returned with fake stories about disloyalty, aimed at causing disaffection between him and the Governor.”
Mr Odusola-Stevenson said those sponsoring the rumours feel threatened by the profile of Mr Aiyedatiwa, his relationship with his boss and the goodwill he enjoys with the people.
“Many stakeholders have commended the Deputy Governor for the way he handled State affairs while he was Acting Governor, despite all his detractors did to provoke him into taking drastic actions, avoided their booby traps and they tripped on their own banana peels.
“Against their expectations, the Deputy Governor was in constant touch with his principal on official State matters, so there was no gap between them.
“How can the man who was constantly in touch with his boss and had prepared for his arrival to attend some other critical state matters, including the signing of the LCDA Law after passage by the State Assembly be surprised by that same arrival?
“Those behind the falsehoods being peddled around had planned that these concocted lies about disloyalty and impeachment would irritate Mr. Governor and his family so as to land a devastating blow on the Deputy Governor ahead of the coming governorship election in the State.
