‘Why Akeredolu Rejected Apology Of His Deputy, Aiyedatiwa’

Sources have revealed some reasons Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu did not accept the apology of his embattled Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

It would be recalled that the deputy governor had apologised to Akeredolu over the recent political crisis in the state.

Aiyedatiwa expressed regrets that the negative reports that had trailed the crisis must have caused embarrassment to the governor in the last few months.

However, speaking via a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Adebowale, the governor said he does not meddle in the affairs of the state House of Assembly.

The Governor instead urged his deputy to defend himself against the allegation levelled against him by the state House of Assembly.

Sharing details of what could be responsible for the Governor’s rejection of the apology by his deputy, a top government official said Akeredolu was not satisfied with the press conference method of apology used by Aiyedatiwa.

The source quoted by The Nation added that the apology tendered by Aiyedatiwa does not contain any specific interest item of apology and the Deputy Governor failed to lobby specific stakeholders before tendering his apology.

Another government official said Governor Akeredolu was earlier displeased that Aiyedatiwa travelled to Abuja without informing him and after he (Aiyedatiwa) returned to Akure, pictures flooded the social media of Aiyedatiwa in his office.

The official said the reason behind Aiyedatiwa’s apology may not be genuine but only due to the fact that some northern APC leaders he relied on to save him turned around to ask him to resign after it was discovered that Akeredolu was not bedridden.

He said: “When we heard about the press conference, we thought it was going to be in line with what Aiyedatiwa has told people that he was going to fight dirty but he changed his mind when pictures of Aketi came out that he was not bedridden or not on a wheelchair. That was the reason for the apology. He was clever by half.

“Nobody can point to anything he said in the apology tendered. Will the people not question the Assembly if they dropped the investigation based on the apology?

“Mr Governor said he did not hear from Aiyedatiwa. Moreover, Aiyedatiwa made it look like it was Aketi who directed the Assembly to impeach him.

“Aiyedatiwa would have made an effort to reach Aketi. He would have done his underground work but suddenly we saw an apology after seeing pictures of Aketi alive.

“Those people in Abuja he went to pledge loyalty to tell him to resign but he did not tell his supporters what transpired.”