Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has taken swift actions against individuals within his administration who allegedly attempted to exploit his absence during a medical vacation for political gain. Akeredolu recently returned to Nigeria after a period of medical treatment in Germany and resumed his duties as governor. However, some politicians in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly saw his absence as an opportunity to position themselves favorably for the upcoming 2024 governorship election.
During Akeredolu’s absence, it was alleged that some of his aides and cabinet members were divided, with aspirations to contest the governorship election themselves. This reportedly led to political infighting and power struggles within the APC in Ondo State.
Upon his return, Governor Akeredolu took action against perceived disloyalty within his administration. He reportedly sacked some media aides attached to the office of the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, accusing them of engaging in disloyal activities on social media while he was away. The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, confirmed the removal of these aides.
Allegations of disloyalty were also directed at Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa, with some accusing him of not being entirely loyal to Governor Akeredolu. Aiyedatiwa denied these allegations and reaffirmed his loyalty to the governor.
Additionally, some sources suggest that more changes and reshuffling may occur within the governor’s cabinet, with those perceived as disloyal or opportunistic likely to face consequences for their actions during Akeredolu’s absence.
While the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state expressed indifference to the situation, they called on Governor Akeredolu to focus on governance rather than pursuing perceived enemies within his administration.
The political dynamics within Ondo State’s ruling APC and the actions taken by Governor Akeredolu following his return highlight the challenges and complexities of managing political power and ambition within a party. The situation also underscores the significance of loyalty and unity within a political party to maintain stability and focus on governance.