Ondo state deputy governor barred from leaving government house with official vehicle
The political rift between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi took a dramatic turn Saturday night, as the latter was prevented from leaving government house with an official vehicle.
Penpushing reports that a video showed the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami,of leading the police to carry out the operation, who claimed that he recently caught wind of Ajayi’s moves to defect from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) arguing that the action should render the Deputy Governor unqualified for some official benefits.
The Deputy Governor in reaction claimed that the vehicle, Toyota Hilux in question was his personal property, he used is money to buy, stressing that he should still be allowed to enjoy the perks of office as an number two citizen of the State.
Penpushing further reports that the grouse between the duo, was an intensify efforts Ajayi to contest against Akeredolu in the forthcoming Governorship election, a move said not to be in line with Akeredolu.
The video, showed the police boss preventing the Deputy Governor, and while buttressing his action, the commissioner said, “we are not saying you should not go out. Since you are defecting, even your letter was brought to me in my office this evening that you are doing it (decamping) on Monday’.
‘What the government is saying is that you cannot go out with official vehicles. This is politics; I am not saying it is right. This is a government house, the governor is the one talking, give me a few minutes, let me talk to my boss.”
Penpushing also reports that, the Deputy Governor in response said: “I have tried all constitutional and acceptable means to prevent this crisis. You are being used by the governor to deprive me of my constitutional right. I am highly disappointed that a policeman of your calibre can be used like this.
“I personally paid for this vehicle. You should not have put yourself in this mess. Let me tell you, you cannot repeat what happened in this state in 1983 because Ondo State people will resist you and your emperor with everything.”
Penpushing reports that spokesperson for the Deputy Governor, Tope Okeowo, when contacted confirmed that his principal was the one in the video, adding that his boss was told to come back on Sunday if he wanted to remove any of his vehicles from the government precinct.
“The two gates to the Government House were under lock and key while the stern-looking policemen were positioned at the gate to prevent the deputy governor from leaving the premises”, he said
Penpushing further reports that, his boss will this week decamp to Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) , but kept mute to clarify whether it was for the purpose of contesting for Governorship seat.
