The camp of the acting governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reportedly been gripped by with anxiety following credible feelers about the imminent return of the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to the state after his extended medical treatment abroad.
Sources claimed in Akure that the Deputy Governor had been meeting with some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over how to pacify tje governor, who, as learnt, is not happy at what was termed the deputy governor’s betrayal occasioned by his vaulting ambition to succeed the governor.
Aiyeditawa had reportedly taken a number of decisions and shown dispositions and tendencies that suggested that his camp wished Akeredolu dead.
For instance, a source claimed that Aiyedatiwa, while the Ondo State Governor was away in Germany receiving treatment, reportedly got involved in the plot to force Akeredolu into resigning on health grounds.
The source within the Executive Council explained that Aiyedatiwa and his supporters had been restless since the emergence of pictures and videos online showing the governor in the process of recovery.
According to the source, the acting governor and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Gbenga Ale, had assured certain members of the Executive Council that the governor would not be returning.
Some members of the Executive Council who aligned themselves with Aiyedatiwa were reportedly convinced that the governor either would not return alive or would resign, thereby allowing the deputy governor to assume the position of governor.
It was also disclosed that these members of the Executive Council had been promised various positions and juicy ministries.
According to the plan, the Chief of Staff, Ale, was promised the position of Secretary to the State Government, while Commissioner Rasaq Obe was promised the position of deputy governor to Aiyedatiwa.
Obe hails from Ifedore in the Ondo Central Senatorial District.
Sources also claimed that Aiyedatiwa had met with former National Secretary of the APC, Iyiola Omisore, former Southwest Chairman of the party, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.
These meetings were reportedly held separately in Abuja.
The deputy governor is said to be visiting these APC leaders in an attempt to gain their favour and secure their support in persuading the governor to overlook his actions.
Another reliable source said, “I was accused of being loyal to Aiyedatiwa. It is true that the deputy governor made some moves. He invited me and others to several meetings and shared information that cannot be disclosed at this time.
“I believe he received false information suggesting that the governor would not return. I know this because he was overly confident about that fact. He was already envisioning himself as the waiting governor.
“Aiyedatiwa told us that the governor could no longer move his hands. He mentioned some files he took to Ibadan that were signed and returned to him. According to him, the governor did not sign those files himself. He concluded that the governor would not be coming back.
“As it stands, apart from meeting with both APC and opposition leaders in Abuja, the acting governor is also reaching out to certain members of the House of Assembly. Right now, he is in a state of panic. The impact of the false information he received regarding the governor’s health has caused a lot of trouble.
“Not only him, even the Chief of Staff, who believed the governor would not make it, is now running around. The Chief of Staff, Ale, completely disregarded the governor, to the point where he took over the responsibilities of the Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of the deputy governor.”
A party chieftain in the state confirmed in a chat with THE CONCLAVE on Wednesday that Aiyedatiwa had long been plotting to be substantive givernirvand his camp had wished ailing Governor Akeredolu dead.
According to him: “Of course it (the plot) has been long. So, you were not aware of this? The Deputy Governor was once fed with a lie that the governor was dead and he started celebrating it in his house.
“He was recorded in the process, and the video was sent to the governor to view. That was the beginning of his trouble with Aketi.
“The cabinet has already been divided for a long time. Some people, including Aketi’s chief of staff, are with the deputy governor while some remnants left are still loyal with the governor.”
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