All media aides appointed by the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Aketi, and seconded to the office of the deputy Governor, have been relieved of their appointments with immediate effect.
Thise affected are Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to Governor (New Media) Oladipupo Okunniga and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Samson Abayomi Adefolalu.
They are to submit all government properties in their possession to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor.
Furthermore, the Press Crew attached to the office of the deputy governor has been disbanded even as those affected were directed report back to their various ministries and stations.
Henceforth, the ministry of Information and Orientation is directed to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office henceforth.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Ondo state, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has explained how he escaped a booby trap by his detractors when the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu was away on medical vacation.
Akeredolu was away for three months to attend to his health in German. He returned last week and has since resumed duty officially.
Before proceeding for the medical leave, Akeredolu transmitted power to his deputy, who acted as the governor.
Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, before he was sacked, declared that his detractors have fabricated lies aimed at denting his reputation since the governor returned.
The statement reads: “These lies would have been ignored but we owe it a duty to prevent the public from being deceived into believing 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
“We 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.
“These faceless individuals who have been hiding their identities because what they are putting out are pure fabrications, are being sponsored by those who are threatened by the profile of the Deputy Governor, his relationship with his boss and the goodwill he enjoys with the people.
“Many stakeholders have commended the Deputy Governor for the way he handled State affairs while he was Acting Governor.
“He avoided their booby traps and they tripped on their own 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.
“How can the man who was constantly in touch with his boss and had prepared for his arrival to attend some other critical state matters, including the signing of the LCDA Law after passage by the State Assembly be surprised by that same arrival?
”Those behind the falsehoods being peddled around had planned that these concocted lies about disloyalty and impeachment would irritate Mr. Governor and his family so as to land a devastating blow on the Deputy Governor ahead of the coming governorship election in the State.
“Now that Mr. Governor is back and has started working, the Deputy Governor remains calm and committed to the duties of his office and unruffled by the lies of desperate politicians and their agents.”
The statement added that: “The Deputy Governor remains loyal to his Principal and no amount of fabricated lies will change that.”