A rebuttal to the letter addressed to Mr. President regarding the allegations against Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State

I write to rebut the allegations made by the Ondo State APC caucus in the House of Representatives regarding Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s supposed animosity towards the late Governor Akeredolu. The allegations are not only baseless they are equally unfounded. The discerning public is not in anyway surprised by the action of the Honourable members of the National Assembly as such is a common feature when a major election is near. The press conference addressed by the six National Assembly members from the state is a gang-up by those who are intimidated by the rising political profile and the general acceptability of Governor Aiyedatiwa across the length and breadth of Ondo State. It is a well-known fact that one of the writers of the said letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Hon. Jimi Odimayo, is a contender for the governorship seat while the other signatories have aligned with other governorship aspirants.

Firstly, I categorically deny the mischievous claims that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s decisions since assuming power are suggestive of his animosity towards the late Akeredolu and are against the growth of the party in the state. It is a falsehood that those loyal to the late Governor Akeredolu have been sidelined. It is pertinent to state here that Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration has shown commitment to inclusivity and fairness, ensuring that all stakeholders are adequately represented in decision-making processes. It would be recalled that a meeting of APC leaders and stakeholders across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state was convened by Governor Aiyedatiwa about four weeks ago as a way of unifying the party.

Furthermore, the assertion that political enemies of the late Governor who aligned with Aiyedatiwa during the call for the relinquishing of power are now holding positions in the government is unfounded. It is important to add here that of the nine cabinet appointments made so far, four were in the cabinet of the late Governor Akeredolu. As a matter of fact, all major appointments made by the incumbent Governor are based on merit, competence, and dedication to serving the people of Ondo State, not on political affiliations or alliances. The focus of the present Aiyedatiwa-led administration remains on delivering good governance and improving the lives of all citizens of Ondo State.

Hon Kolawole Babatunde FPA, ALBS.
MHR (2015 – 2019)