Akeredolu sacks deputy’s media aides

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, has sacked the media aides attached to the office of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, his deputy.

The development comes amid an alleged rift between Aiyedatiwa and Akeredolu.

On Thursday, Akeredolu returned to Nigeria after a three-month medical leave in Germany.

His deputy was acting in his stead while he was away from office.

The Ondo governor officially resumed duty on Friday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu’s chief press secretary, also said the media crew attached to the deputy governor’s office has been disbanded.

“They are to submit all government properties in their possession to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the deputy Governor. Similarly, the Press Crew attached to the office of the deputy governor has been disbanded,” Olatunde said.

“Consequently, all members of the Press Crew are to report back to their various ministries and stations.”

Akeredolu also directed the ministry of information and orientation to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office henceforth.

Reacting to the development, Aiyedatiwa clarified that there is no rift between him and his principal.

In a statement by Kenneth Odusola, his spokesperson, Aiyedatiwa described the alleged rift as “pure fabrications” aimed at denting his image.

The deputy governor said the people behind the rumours were threatened by his relationship with his boss and the goodwill he enjoys with residents of the state.

“The lies would have been ignored but I 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,” the statement reads.

“There is a 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.

“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.

“He avoided their booby traps and they tripped on their 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.

“Those behind the falsehoods being peddled around had planned that these concocted lies about disloyalty and impeachment would irritate Mr. Governor and his family to land a devastating blow on the Deputy Governor ahead of the coming governorship election in the State.”

The deputy governor noted that he is committed to his duties and unruffled by “the lies of desperate politicians and their agents”.

He added that he remains loyal to Akeredolu and “no amount of fabricated lies will change that”.