Months of tension and high-level political intrigue came to a temporary halt in Ondo State last week when Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu returned from a three-month medical treatment in Germany on Thursday.
Akeredolu’s long absence and the perceived severity of his ailment had sparked a power struggle in his cabinet as his officials sought old posts ahead of next year’s state gubernatorial election.
There was a vacuum at the helm of the state government until the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was formally appointed acting governor by the state House of Assembly after Governor Akeredolu sent a letter to legislators informing them of his medical leave.
Acting Governor Aiyedatiwa (PHOTO CREDIT: @LuckyAiyedatiwa)
Some opportunistic individuals had taken advantage of the vacuum to pursue their political ambitions, thereby creating tensions within and outside the state government.
Emblematic of the crisis was a widespread rumor in the state of a rift between the deputy governor and the governor’s family, with Mr Akeredolu’s wife, Betty, said to have illegally become deputy governor.
This was believed to be related to the sudden emergence of reports on social media accusing Mr Aiyedatiwa of brutal domestic violence against his wife.
Aiyedatiwa was grappling with his new role as acting governor while also struggling to deflect the obvious smear campaign aimed at destroying his political career.
Much as he denied the allegation of assault on his wife, the reports persisted for weeks on news channels.
This development created factions in Akeredolu’s cabinet, fueled by the lack of clarity over the governor’s illness. It was a case where the cat was outside and the mice were playing and dancing around the house, creating all kinds of mess.
Akeredolu’s return on Thursday at least temporarily calmed the storms in his government.
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has signed into law the bill creating 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Alex Ajipe, leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed delight at the return of the governor.
“After uncertainties, we thank God that Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has returned from his medical leave abroad,” he said while speaking to Newslodge.
Now that the governor has returned, Ajipe said: “We can look forward to his leadership and guidance to finish what he started.
“We are confident that their experience and dedication will help us weather the remaining storms and achieve a peaceful and prosperous future for Ondo State.”
While the governor was on his sickbed, different groups held prayer sessions for his full recovery, including the ruling APC, the state government, traditional rulers, religious groups and unions.
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With his safe return on Thursday, insinuations and disputes were put on hold, while his officials and political factions joined other groups in celebrating the event.
But his presence may have only taken the competition for power and advantage between his government and the APC to a new phase.
Upon his arrival, the governor immediately wrote to notify the state House of Assembly of his willingness to resume his duties.
“I’m back,” he declared as he officially regained the reins of authority. She thanked the residents of the state and members of his cabinet for their love, support and prayers for him.
Governor Akeredolu with Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi
Leaders of the unions, including the NLC and the TUC, visited the governor to express their joy at his return to the state.
Leaders of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) described his return as a heartwarming development.
In a statement by its state president, Segun Ajiboye, and its secretary, Steve Modupe, the union said the governor’s recovery from ill health “is a manifestation of God’s spiritual intervention and response to unprecedented prayers offered by the people for him.”
The state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) also expressed joy over the return of the governor.
On Sunday, the president of the association, Omosehin Adeyemi-Osowe, and secretary, Adeayo Omotehinse, said in a statement that the association also prayed for his recovery while he was away.
Traditional rulers, pensioners and other unions in the state also said they were delighted to have Akeredolu back in the state.
The traditional institutions of the state, especially the traditional council of Owo, the governor’s hometown, effusively welcomed the return of the governor.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been the only dissenter, as it immediately disagreed with the way the governor made his return.
Party spokesperson Kennedy Peretei said the governor was disrespectful to the Ondo people by moving to his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he has been meeting members of his cabinet and the House of Representatives. the state Assembly.
“While Akeredolu was in Germany tending to his health, Ondo suffered multi-dimensional setbacks, from infighting to huge sums of money diverted from the state treasury for medical expenses,” he said.
The PDP had previously criticized the way the government handled matters related to the governor’s health.
But the ruling APC defended the government and accused the PDP of politicizing the governor’s health status.
“It makes noise”
Now that the governor has returned, the “troublemakers” in his party will once again remain silent. Those with gubernatorial ambitions before next year’s transition will speak quietly, careful not to irritate the governor, who will play a key role in the succession process.
The lieutenant governor is from the state’s southern senatorial district and is expected to run in 2024. His leadership abilities have been tested in the past three months. However, despite the challenges and intrigues that surrounded him, Mr. Aiyedatiwa gave a good account of himself.
Despite the current good mood, there is an uneasy calm within the government over Mr Aiyedatiwa’s gubernatorial ambitions. His rivals question his loyalty to the governor.
Some have even claimed that the deputy governor has shown less loyalty than his predecessor, Agboola Ajayi.
It will be recalled that Ajayi narrowly avoided impeachment in Akeredolu’s first term over his decision to challenge the governor in the APC primaries of 2020. He eventually left the ruling party to contest against Akeredolu on the Zenith Labor Party platform.
Ajayi is back in the PDP where he ran as senatorial candidate for Ondo South in the 2023 general elections but lost to Jimoh Ibrahim of the APC.
“Lucky’s disloyalty was evident to a greater extent,” an administration source told Newslodge.
“It’s something everyone is aware of.”
Aiyedatiwa was accused of rejecting the governor’s decision on important issues and failing to protect his interests while Akeredolu was away. He was also accused of wishing that the governor would not return so that he could serve out the remainder of his term.
However, the source indicated that the governor is not in the mood at the moment to fight with anyone.
“If the governor wanted to penalize him, he would not have allowed him to visit him in Ibadan on Friday, he would have simply asked him to stay away. You know the governor doesn’t know how to pretend,” he said.
However, a public commentator, Kunle Adeyeri, dismissed the criticism as unfair and unjustified. He said Aiyedatiwa behaved very well as acting governor.
“Aiyedatiwa has proven to be honest and loyal despite the tide of criticism,” Adeyeri said.
“When I was acting governor, the Sunshine State was at peace. The state did not appear in the news for negative reasons.
“The controversies surrounding the Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) were resolved with amicable resolutions. He did well cheering on Omoyeni Joy who performed well in the last WASSCE. Even the ruling APC was at peace with many activities in the party.”
There is just over a year left in the administration before the next election.
Meanwhile, the governor’s spokesman, Richard Olatunde, said that he is now fully willing to work.
“As you can see, we are fully installed and work has begun, and the governor is ready to fulfill his duties as the days progress,” Olatunde added.