Ondo Govt House Security Issue: Fayose reacts, As Gov. Akeredolu Debunks News Of His Hand In His Deputy Gov’s Travails
The Oasis Reporters
June 22, 2020
(middle) of the PDP in pursuit of the general interest of the South West.
Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose has reacted to the drama on Sunday in Ondo State where the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi was said to have been prevented from exiting the Government House.
Ajayi on Saturday night was said to have been stopped from leaving the Government House by the Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, who was allegedly said to be acting on Akeredolu’s orders.
While a section of the media reported that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu defended the police operatives, and allegedly said that they were only trying to prevent looting by the Deputy Governor’s aides, another section of the media quoted sources in Government House that Akeredolu had no hand in the security impasse.
Hours later, the deputy governor defected to the People Democratic Party, PDP.
Reacting, Fayose condemned the harassment by the police and manhandling of the deputy governor by the Police Commissioner.
According to him, this depicts how democracy is being threatened under the All Progressives Congress, APC.
On his twitter page, Fayose wrote: “Even if the Deputy Governor is decamping to another party, does that give the Police Commissioner the right to hold him hostage?
“Is there any law in this country, permitting police to prevent a Deputy Governor from using his official vehicles just because he is changing political parties?
“That’s the level of threat that democracy is facing in our country under this APC and sadly, the President who should be the leader of the party cannot manage his immediate family not to talk of managing his party or the affairs of the nation”.
Instructively, former Ekiti State Governor, did not mention Gov. Akeredolu in his Twitter post.
The Ondo State Governor has been known to Bea team player in the South West, traversing across party lines to serve the interests of the South West people while cementing South West and South East relationships through appointments and family ties.
In the early 80s, party politics that pitched a governor and his deputy once tore Ondo State apart leading to unbridled arson, murder and acrimony. Then deputy governor Akin Omoboriowo had cross carpeted from the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the National Party Of Nigeria, NPN led by President Shehu Shagari, in contest with the governor, Chief Adekunle Ajasin. The loss of lives was a monumental setback to Ondo State and became a silent point behind other factors that snowballed into dividing the state to carve Ekiti State out of it.
It is generally believed that the people may have resolved to abhor violent or murderous politics.
Meanwhile, Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi has been reported as saying he only resigned from the APC, but would still remain deputy governor, just as Edo State governor, Andrew Obaseki has quit the APC party, yet remains governor, though a new member of the PDP.
In another development, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has reacted to the defection of Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi to the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Ajayi who was allegedly prevented from leaving the Government House on Saturday night, announced his defection to the People’s Democratic Party on Sunday.
Ajayi resigned from the APC on Sunday at Ward 2, Apoi in Eseodo local government.
He immediately picked up a membership card of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the same ward.
Reacting, Atiku in his Twitter page welcomed Ajayi to the PDP.
I welcome Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, to our great party @OfficialPDPNig. Our repositioned party's umbrella is big and sturdy enough to accommodate democrats desirous of an indeed people's oriented change.
— Atiku Abubakar (@atiku) June 21, 2020
Atiku Abubakar @atiku further added thus:
“Meanwhile, security agents should not be encouraged to clampdown or intimidate citizens on account of their political party preferences”.
