Razak Obe, the Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources in Ondo State, has refuted claims that he paid for his appointment as commissioner by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The denial comes in response to allegations made by Akeredolu’s ex-Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategies, Dr Doyin Odebowale, challenging Obe to disclose whether he paid the late governor’s wife or son for the appointment.
The controversy unfolded in the aftermath of Governor Akeredolu’s passing after a prolonged battle with cancer. Akeredolu’s deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has since been sworn in as the new governor.
In a widely circulated interview with Objectv Media, Odebowale accused some members of Akeredolu’s cabinet, including Obe, of disloyalty and alleged betrayal. Odebowale specifically challenged Obe to explain the circumstances of his appointment, suggesting that he owed it to Akeredolu’s wife and son.
Obe, in response, vehemently denied paying for his appointment and accused Odebowale of being part of a manipulative cabal within Akeredolu’s government. He asserted that he had supported Akeredolu and played a significant role in the 2020 campaigns, countering claims that he was a political nonentity.
The Ondo commissioner also alleged that Odebowale, as part of the cabal, had held back the state budget performance when Governor Aiyedatiwa was acting governor. Additionally, Obe claimed that Odebowale was among those who benefited from Akeredolu’s illness.
“I supported Akeredolu and gave him all assistance in 2020. I followed him through the campaigns; so, it is not true to say I was a nobody politically. There was no need to pay the First Lady or her son for me to be made a commissioner,” Obe asserted.
Tensions between Odebowale and Obe appear to have intensified before
Akeredolu’s death, with the former aligning with the late governor and the latter being described as a strong loyalist of the current Governor Aiyedatiwa. Obe previously wrote to Aiyedatiwa, alleging that some cabinet members were forging Akeredolu’s signature while the ex-governor was battling illness. The exchange reflects the complex dynamics within the Ondo State political landscape.