April 23, 2020

By Osagie Otabor, Benin

Ondo Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has refused suggestions from political allies that he should commence impeachment processes against his deputy, Hon Agboola Ajayi. The Nation has learnt.

Relationship between Akeredolu and the deputy has broken down over what an aide to the Governor described “as broken down of excessive trust.”

It was gathered some politicians approached the Governor to either ask Agboola to resign or face impeachment but the Governor declined and asked the man be left alone.

The deputy has not been seen recently in many public functuons.

Sources close to the office of the Deputy Governor however said the Governor would fail in any impeachment plot because the deputy picked majority of the House of Assembly members.

Some political allies of the deputy governor said he was more grounded in grassroots politics than the Governor.

They said the deputy has been loyal to Akeredolu but politicians who wanted politcal favours painted lies to the Governor through the First Lady.

An aide to the Deputy Governor, who pleaded anonymity, said the relationship was cordial until Governor Akeredolu started having fears that his deputy would contest against him at the primaries.

But a top government official said the deputy betrayed the trust Akeredolu have in him by attempting to put political structures in place ahead of this year’s governorship election.

Read Also: Akeredolu releases 26 convicts
The top official said Akeredolu gave free hands for his deputy to nominate political appointees from Ondo South and allowed him to make nominations during the party primaries ahead of 2019 general elections.

According to him: “Akeredolu trusted the deputy to handle politcal matters and that was why he listened to him to support some candidates to contest under the Action Alliance.

“But the deputy went to Abuja and told them the Governor was not listening to advice. That was what led to Akeredolu’s suspension.

“We have told the Governor to begin impeachment processes but he said we shoild allow posterity judge his Deputy.”

Flyingngel:
I think the Governor is right " they shld allow posterity to judge the deputy"
But on the other hand judging how our Governors normally fight their deputy with everything they have : either in this scenario, the deputy has a higher stake in the state assembly than the governor or is grounded in the grassroot like they said or he has a senior godfather in abuja.
All in all, ones has to choose his/her fight carefully and I believe Akeredolu has just done that.

mimsG:
Wetin concern fayemi and akeredolu. Says a lot about Nigerians, most people don't even know who is who judging by most of the comments

EcoBrick: