The crisis between the governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi took a new dimension on Sunday as the deputy governor on Sunday officially resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and subsequently defected and registered at his Apoi Ward 2 of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state, as a member of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ajayi who pointedly said he is not resigning his position as the deputy governor of the state maintained that he was elected by the people of the state and his supporters have not advised him to resign his position.
The defection of Ajayi to the PDP which is in preparatory to his formal defection to the opposition party today, (Monday) at the State Secretariat of the PDP in Akure on Monday, laid to rest the denial of friction between the two leaders.
While submitting his resignation letter to the Apoi ward II Chairman and the Party chairman in the local government, Turo David and Ajayi Samuel respectively, Ajayi appreciated them for their support while in the party.
According to him, the party has witnessed unprecedented development during the last few years but said, “it’s unfortunate I have to leave this party at this particular period and time.
“I want to thank you for your support and I have enjoyed tremendous support from the ward and the local government. But I am here to officially announce to you that as from today I have ceased to be a member of APC and I want to tender my resignation letter to the chairman and the ward chairman.
“Ese Odo local government will continue to witness peace and progress. The reason I am taking this action is known to you all but I have listened to all my supporters before taking this decision.
“It is a painful thing that I’m leaving the APC at this particular time, but there is time for everything. We have the fundamental freedom to belong to any party or group we desire so I want to thank you all for your support.”
Ajayi’s letter of resignation reads: “I write to tender my resignation from All Progressives Congress (APC).
“My decision is informed, after due consultation with all critical stakeholders, by the drift in party direction, division and general lack of inclusiveness in the running of the party and government. I sincerely appreciate the party for the opportunity to serve, while wishing the party the best.”
Registering and picking the PDP membership card in the same ward, Agboola was welcomed back into the party by PDP ward chairman, Festus Oboro, who said the deputy governor has returned back home.
Agboola said, “What is happening in APC today is tsunami as any politician will be leaving for APC and I want to assure you that PDP has come back to its winning way.
“This is not a day for speech, but to let you know that I have come to rejoin our party, my party, PDP.
“You all know why I am leaving APC and just yesterday, I was thoroughly embarrassed. But all we want in this state is peace and we will always embrace peace.”
Ajayi was registered and presented with his membership card by the chairman of the party in the local government.
Ajayi at the weekend was stopped and prevented by security operatives at the from moving out of the Government House.
Ajayi was billed to commence his defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from his ward in Kiribo in Ese Odo Local Government Area of the state.
To this end, the aides of the deputy governor, stormed the Alagbaka Government House to pack his personal effects, but they were prevented by the security in Government House from carrying out the order.
This prompted the deputy governor to come to the government house only to meet the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami, who maintained that Ajayi cannot move out of the premises.
It was gathered that some aides of the deputy governor were alleged of looting property in the Government House ahead of the planned defection of their boss from APC to PDP on Monday.
However, security operatives who claimed to be acting on the order of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bolaji Salami, blocked the way to prevent the deputy governor’s official pilot vehicle from moving.
The Commissioner of Police, Salami who also appeared at the Government House tried to explain to the Deputy Governor the reasons behind the action.
But, a furious Ajayi argued and complained about his right being trampled upon by the Police Commissioner while he was said to be held for over four hours.
The CP appealed to the deputy governor to come back on Sunday if he wanted to move any of his vehicles out of the government premises.
Ajayi, however, insisted that he would not leave the gate back to his official quarters unless they allow him to move his official and personal vehicles out of the Government House.
The two gates to the Government House were under lock and key while stern-looking policemen positioned at the gate prevented the deputy governor from leaving the premises.
Ajayi said he wanted to move out, saying he no longer feels secure in the premises.
He claimed that arrangements had been concluded with some political thugs to attack him and vandalise his property at the Government House if he decamped to the opposition political party.
The Commissioner of Police, however, said his office had been briefed about the defection but argued that Ajayi cannot dump APC and with APC’s vehicles.
He 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 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.”
However, speaking with newsmen, the deputy governor expressed disappointed with the conduct of the Commissioner of Police and the men posted to the government house.
He said the conduct of the police boss is unbecoming of a senior police officer.
Ajayi who was flanked by two members of the House of Assembly, Festus Akingbaso and Rasheed Elegbeleye fumed over the development as he warned the Police Commissioner from being used of causing a crisis in the state.
Ajayi 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.”
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Mr Tee Leo-Ikoro said he was not aware of such development but promised to get back.
One of the aides of the deputy governor, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune disclosed that the two Hilux in contention were paid for by the deputy governor from his personal purse.
“If you want to confirm this, you can go to Elizade Motors, and confirm who paid for the vehicles. The state government has refused to pay back the deputy governor, so what are they dragging.
“I challenge the state government to make available the list of items allegedly illegally removed from the residential house of the Deputy Governor.”
However, the aftermath of the open confrontation between the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi and the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Bolaji Salami, said his confrontation with Ajayi is an attempt to promote sentiment.
Salami who stated this in a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Tee-Leo Ikoro said the Command would not condone lawlessness in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Salami, while reacting to the confrontation between him and Ajayi said he has been misrepresented in the video being circulated on the development.
Salami described the video being circulated as an attempt to foment sentiment and cause misunderstanding in the state, maintaining that the police under his supervision will take decisive responsibility when performing their legitimate functions as prescribed by law.
Salami explained that he visited the scene of the incident at the Alagbaka government house after all attempts by his officers and men to broker peace between the aides of the deputy governor and the government house officials failed.
According to him, the bone of contention between the two groups was over the number of cars the deputy governor could drive out at the time, saying it is only necessary that his presence at the scene as the Command’s Commissioner of Police could calm frayed nerves.
He also said, having listened to the reason for the misunderstanding, he said he advised both sides to come to terms on a condition which they all agreed on.
Salami who said he has never been a politician all through his life and would not want to be dragged into politics maintained that he is completely apolitical and as a police officer, his job is to protect lives and property of citizens of Ondo State.
He, therefore, advised the good people of Ondo that as the race to Ondo government house draws very close, politicians with interest in the race should learn to play their game with the dictate of its laws; and also advise their followers to shun any act capable of causing chaos or lawlessness in the State as he concluded”.
“Though I vowed to police Ondo State and its people with humility, I will not allow the ego and sentiment of any individual dictate what form of policing style I should use”.
Meanwhile, one of the aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince John Ola Mafo, has withdrawn from the October governorship race in the state saying his action was predicated on circumstances beyond his control.
This was contained in a statement personally issued and signed by Mafo announcing his withdrawal from the governorship race ahead of the party’s primary slated for next month.
Mafo who pledged to work with whoever emerged as the party flagbearer said to bring PDP back to Ondo State Government House in line with the expectations of the good people of the State.
The statement read “With a great sense of responsibility and unbroken faith in the future of Ondo State, I announce my formal withdrawal from the 2020 Governorship race, having been an aspirant on the platform of the PDP.
“My exit from the contest is predicated on circumstances beyond my control.
“It is instructive to note that I made my self available in the first place because I believe I have what it takes, in terms of experience, vision, capacity and general competence, to govern the state in such a way that will guarantee sustainable development in line with the yearnings and aspiration of the people of the state.
He stated further that “I want to use this forum to thank my compatriots across the state, who genuinely believe in my vision and who have contributed in one way or the other in the cause of the aspiration.
As I step out of the race, I cannot but observe that Ondo State is yearning for a new order where the overall interest of the citizenry, will be the supreme objective of government policies and programmes, where leadership can be deployed to sacrifice self-interest, personal agenda and other unproductive anti-people tendencies in order to make life more meaningful to the teeming masses of the state.
“From the activities of the present administration and disposition of the people, it is clear that the leadership of the APC government in the state has failed to meet the expectations of people and have proved to be incapable of meeting the lofty objectives of governance as stated above.
“From the foregoing one can rightly declare that the people of the state are looking for an alternative platform, which the PDP represents, to bring about the desired change in the state.
“On the way forward, as a patriotic citizen and loyal member of the PDP over the years, I am prepared to work with whoever emerges from the party primary to bring PDP back to Ondo State Government House in line with the expectations of the good people of the State.”
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