Ondo deputy gov reacts to sacking of his media aides by gov Akeredolu as claims of rift spread

• Aiyedatiwa said some reports making the rounds in recent times about his purported disloyalty to Akeredolu were spurious
• He the reports are aimed at causing disharmony and acrimony between him and the governor

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has refuted claims of purported bad blood between him and his principal, governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Aiyedatiwa said this amid speculated rift between him and the governor following the sacking of his media aides on Tuesday.

Recall that Aiyedatiwa was the acting governor of the Sunshine State when Akeredolu was away in Germany on medical vacation to treat an undisclosed illness.

In a statement on Tuesday, Aiyedatiwa said some reports making the rounds in recent times about his purported disloyalty to Akeredolu were spurious and aimed at causing disharmony and acrimony between him and the governor.

According to the deputy governor, the reports were spread by some faceless groups and individuals in the state to tarnish his image for political reasons.

“The deputy governor remains loyal to his principal and no amount of fabricated lies will change that,” the statement signed by Aiyedatiwa’s spokesman, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, read.

“We need to remind the public that this is a continuation of the blackmail started by these same characters some months ago, with false stories planted in some media outlets against the deputy governor. However, since those lies did not yield the result they envisaged, the blackmailers have returned with fake stories about disloyalty, aimed at causing disaffection between him and the governor.

“These faceless individuals who have been hiding their identities because what they are putting out are pure fabrications, are being sponsored by those who are threatened by the profile of the deputy governor, his relationship with his boss, and the goodwill he enjoys with the people.”

The deputy governor also stated that he was in constant touch with his principal on official state matters and there was no gap between them.