Akeredolu Is Wrong Choice For Ondo People, Says Deputy Gov

The Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, has described his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu as a wrong choice made by the electorate in the state in 2016.

Akeredolu had on Saturday said that he made a mistake picking Ajayi as his running mate despite criticisms against him then.

But the deputy governor, while responding to his boss on Sunday through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Babatope Okeowo, said Akeredolu spoke out of frustration because he could not remove him illegally.

Ajayi said Akeredolu came a distant third position in the 2012 governorship election which he contested without him and said his (Ajayi’s) wealth of experience and political sagacity contributed in no small measure to win the poll for the All Progressives Congress.

The statement read, “If there was any wrong choice, it’s the choice of Arakunrin Akeredolu, who has refused to take all-wise counsel not only from his Deputy but from other cabinet members who have since left his rudderless administration as well as prominent senior citizens of Ondo State.

“We understand the frustration of Governor Akeredolu over his inability to remove his deputy illegally through the instrumentality of the House of Assembly having heavily induced them with state fund to do so.

“We also understand the self-inflicted pain of running the state aground through inflated contracts, clannishness, nepotism and malfeasance, especially the recently uncovered issue of N4.3 billion, which was kept in a secret account at Zenith Bank and disbursed without legislative approval.

“These and many injuries Governor Akeredolu caused himself cannot be blamed on his Deputy, HE Agboola Ajayi, whom he has sidelined shortly after the administration was sworn in.

“It must be put on record that Akeredolu contested the 2012 governorship election and came a distant third in the election won by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko of Labour Party.

“It was the experience, weight and political capital, which Hon. Agboola Ajayi brought into the 2016 gubernatorial election that produced the current All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in the state.”

The deputy governor said his estranged boss had destroyed the economy of the state and had cornered the resources which he held in trust for the people for his family and cronies.

He said the electorate in the state would not make the mistake of reelecting Akeredolu again, saying he would be sent parking by the voters after the expiration of his first term.