The move by the deputy governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to supplant his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu, who is currently on medical vacation, has deepened.

Sources revealed that the deputy governor has become emboldened by the transfer of power to him by the Governor.

Recall that the state House of Assembly had confirmed that it received a letter of medical leave from the Governor.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, explained that the Governor had embarked on a 21-day leave for medical treatment abroad starting from 7th of June, 2023 to 6th July, 2023.

Since the announcement of power transfer, Aiyedatiwa has reportedly been undermining the authority of the governor's office through his actions and decisions.

A reliable government source, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, revealed that the deputy governor has demanded unrestricted access to the state treasury.

According to the source, in addition to his regular monthly allocation, Aiyedatiwa has insisted on receiving the governor's allowance and other benefits associated with the office.

It was gathered that the deputy governor has been interrogating government officials about the governor's earnings and expenditures.

The source said it became worrisome when it was discovered that the deputy governor had bypassed the Ministry of Finance and resorted to issuing threats in order to obtain funds.

"We are not overly concerned about the political turmoil within the government. Our priority is ensuring due process. The governor's office does not directly instruct us to release funds.

“There are established procedures for financial disbursements in the government, and all approvals must go through the Ministry of Finance.

“Aside the running grant accruing to the deputy governor’s office monthly, he has also demanded that the governor’s running grant and other emoluments attached to the office of the governor be handed to him as acting Governor.

"In the past week, the deputy governor has summoned and threatened two of our officials. He has inquired about the governor's spending and demanded to know how funds allocated to the governor's office are disbursed.

“He believes he is entitled to two streams of funding, insisting that the governor's office allocation should be included as part of his role as acting governor.

"During the encounters with our officials, they kindly explained that even the governor's office route its approvals through the Ministry of Finance.

“However, the deputy governor remains obstinate, repeatedly demanding immediate funds. Despite our attempts to educate him on proper financial protocols and the responsible use of public funds, he persists.

“He has been confrontational and demanding. We see this as executive recklessness. While we understand tensions may be high, we would prefer not to be involved in any reckless activities," the source narrated.

It will be recalled that the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on special duties and strategies, Dr. Doyin Odebowale recently raised the alarm that some politicians are using the absence of Akeredolu who is currently on medical vacation to capture the state’s treasury.

Odebowale said the politicians, in order to have unfettered access to the state’s treasury, have sustained the onslaught of negative publications against the governor, some members of his immediate family and their fellow appointees, whose schedules of responsibilities have been made visible.

According to the Governor’s aide, some functionaries of the government who have refused to join the plot against governor Akeredolu have come under ceaseless but baseless attacks.

Odebowale’s statement titled “Of Narcissism And Moral Bankruptcy: Sustained Assaults On Decency” followed reports of conspiracy and coordinated attack on Akeredolu suspected to be led by the deputy governor.

While reports already fingered the deputy governor as being complicit in nocturnal meetings with selected cabinet members on how to force the governor to handover power, Odebowale in his statement confirmed that “They hold constant meetings, speculating on the state of health of the governor. These elements attract negative sentiments to an administration which had enjoyed relative peace and overwhelming goodwill from the people, based on impactful achievements.”

Another reliable source, who pleaded anonymity due to his closeness to the government, said the deputy governor has been refusing the schedule of activities as being prepared from the governor’s office.

The source complained that the deputy governor has acted in flagrance disobedience to the directives of the governor.

“The deputy governor has gone haywire. It is like he has made up his mind to fight his boss openly. There is no other way to fight your boss than refusing the schedules from his office.

“In fact, the deputy governor is more concerned about working outside the state so as to get access to allowances and other emoluments.

“On Wednesday, the Deputy Governor was supposed to represent the governor at the 2023 FIDA Nigeria held at the International Centre for Culture and Event (DOME). But he declined. He chose to attend the 2023 NAF Conference
World Hydrography Day in Abuja.

“This is just one of the many instances where he declined schedules. The events that were initially accepted by the governor in which the governor had already promised his presence or that of the deputy governor are now being declined by the deputy governor.”

Power can intoxicate. No be small.

Small nyash dey shake oo 🤣🤣

Powers that be having conflict of interest simple and short.

ok

This will not end well

Just small power now he is already doing like a DON.
Na wa Oooo

Power abhors a vacunm

Power intoxicates
Absolute power power intoxicates absolutely

This writer is not a good being. You need to get tracked down, so you can prove all these. If he's attending all event that the governor was supposed to go you will still say he doesn't want governor to come back alive. Nobody is mortal or immune to sickness including the deputy governor. I got the feeling to tell you the word of Alake to Obidients when they were blackmailing President Tinubu.

When the governor eventually return, na to impeach deputy remain