Olushina Fatai Lawal, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, has pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision not to visit the State Government House despite Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa being the chief mourner indicates that he does not support the governor’s gubernatorial aspiration.
Tinubu was in the state on Wednesday to offer condolences to the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye III, and the family of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, in Owo.
Akeredolu, who died of prostate cancer on December 26, 2023, was laid to rest in his hometown, Owo, last Friday.
During his visit, the President also paid a visit to the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, at his residence in Akure, the state capital.
Fatai said protocol dictated that whenever the President or a governor is on a state visit, they are expected to make an official visit to the governor’s office or government house regardless of their political affiliation.
He added that in the case of Aiyedatiwa, the President left for Owo after being greeted by party supporters at the airport, where he met with the Olowo of Owo and the Akeredolu family before returning to Akure for a meeting with Pa Fasonranti.
He stated that “Even though late Governor Adebayo Adefarati and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were not on good terms, whenever Obasanjo visited Ondo State during Adefarati’s administration, he still went to the State House.”
The APC leader explained that the governor was unjust to his late boss when the latter needed his support and loyalty.
“No leader will accept or wish for himself what Governor Ayedatiwa did while his late boss was fighting for his life in a hospital in Germany.
“During that time, the people of Ondo State were on their knees, both Christians and Muslims, including traditionalists, praying to God for the Governor’s speedy recovery, but Ayedatiwa and his followers were only interested in how to seize power.
“Late Akeredolu brought Lucky Ayedatiwa into the political spotlight. He is unpopular among his people. This is a man who ran for the Ese-Odo/Ilaje House of Representatives in 2015 but was rejected.
“During 2019 general elections, Akeredolu wanted him to become the senator representing Ondo South but his people orchestrated his downfall. He didn’t even get the party ticket.
“He was nominated as the Ondo State NDDC representative by Akeredolu but his people flooded the National Assembly with petitions to oppose his nomination. Akeredolu’s intervention provided him with a safety net.
“Akeredolu valued loyalty and had an undying love for Ayedatiwa, which was why he chose him as his running mate when he ran for a second term in 2020. But how did Aiyedatiwa repay Akeredolu when the late governor needed his loyalty?” Fatai said.
