By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Following his swearing-in as the substantive governor of Ondo State, silent moves are on to pick another deputy governor in Ondo State to take the place of the newly-substituted Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Sources expressed the likelihood that the next deputy governor would be picked from among the cabinet members who stuck to Aiyedatiwa when the Ondo State House of Assembly moved to impeach him.
According to a report, these may include the Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale, and the Commissioner of Energy and Water Resources, Rasaq Obe.
Ale hails from Owo, the same hometown of the deceased Akeredolu, while Obe hails from Ifedore in the Ondo Central senatorial district.
Some other sources also said Ale might be favoured as compensation for the demise of Akeredolu.
*Another commissioner resigns
Meanwhile, sequel to Wednesday’s change of administration, the Ondo State Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Raimi Olayiwola Aminu, yesterday resigned his appointment.
The development came less than 24 hours after a new governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was sworn in as the new governor of the state, following the demise of the erstwhile governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Aminu, in a letter addressed to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oladunni Odu, said his resignation took effect from Thursday, December 28 (yesterday).
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According to him, the decision was based on his conscience, “after his leader and ‘dear boss, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, joined the Saint Triumphant’.
“I sincerely thank our dear Arakunrin and the good people of the state for the opportunity to serve in his cabinet as the Senior Special Assistant on Lands and Infrastructure, Special Adviser on Lands, Works, and Infrastructure, and Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing,” he said.
With the commissioner’s resignation yesterday the list of those who have opted to leave has increased to five in less than 48 hours.
Some of them who have resigned, citing the untimely death of Akeredolu include Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Richard Olatunde; Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Dare Aragbaiye; Special Assistant on Photography, Olawale Abolade; and Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale.
*Makinde declares three days mourning for late Ondo gov in Oyo
In another development, as the gale of mourning rocking the political landscape goes on, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde yesterday declared a three-day mourning, with flags to fly at half-mast, as a mark of respect to the late Akeredolu.
The directive of Makinde, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, was contained in a statement issued yesterday in Ibadan by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
Akeredolu, who died on Wednesday morning in Germany, where he had gone for medical treatment, has been replaced as Ondo State governor by his erstwhile deputy, Aiyedatiwa.
Makinde directed that all flags at public offices in Oyo State would be flown at half-mast for three days.
He had, on Wednesday evening, alongside the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Kwara State Governor, Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman, visited the Ibadan home of Akeredolu.
Earlier, Makinde had described Akeredolu as “a dogged fighter and courageous leader”, who worked for the peace, prosperity, and progress of the South-West region.
He said, “In Aketi (Akeredolu), I have also lost a worthy co-fighter for the South-West cause. We were both at the vanguard of the struggle, which birthed the South-West Security Network Agency codenamed Amotekun.
“Aketi’s fervent and unrelenting stance on issues that border on South-West’s regional integration and progress is a lesson for leaders. He will be sorely missed. Rest well, my dear brother, and may the good Lord be with everyone you left behind,” Makinde added.