Aiyedatiwa Draws Battle Lines with Odu,Akinterinwa, Others; Dissolves Cabinet

Governor Aiyedatiwa

By Ade Wale

Wahala is when someone has laboured to enter into a position of prestige and rest only to find thorns planted on his seat. Wahala is exactly what Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is facing at present. Despite looking like he has the upper hand against his detractors, the former deputy governor may just fold under the pressure one of these days.

Governor Aiyedatiwa has launched a new move against those perceived to be against him and his new position. According to reports, the governor has given the directive to dissolve the State Executive Council, effectively firing the cabinet members of his former boss, the late Rotimi Akeredolu.

Aiyedatiwa reportedly thanked all the now-outgoing officials for their work and asked them to hand over all necessary documents and office signatures to their immediate subordinates. Furthermore, the governor asked all the affected officials, including all of Akeredolu’s Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) and Special Assistants (SAs) to return the ownership of government properties in their current possessions.

On any other day or place, this news would not produce any shocking effect. However, in the case of Ondo and with individuals like Princess Oladunni Odu and Wale Akinterinwa, dissolving Akeredolu’s cabinet is tantamount to Aiyedatiwa drawing the battle lines.

For context, before Aiyedatiwa’s cabinet-dissolving directive, Princess Odu was the Secretary to the Ondo State Government (SSG) and Akinterinwa was the state Commissioner for Finance. Both of them allegedly stood against Aiyedatiwa while Akeredolu was still alive and governing the state.

Odu and Akinterinwa have also declared their intentions to participate in the 2024 Ondo gubernatorial election, initially hoping to succeed Akeredolu. With the latter’s passing and Aiyedatiwa’s recent move, the barriers to their gubernatorial aspirations have thickened significantly.

What are the palm lines saying? Will Odu, Akinterinwa, or any of the others affected by Aiyedatiwa’s cabinet dissolution stand by and watch? Or will they take up their slings and arrows, ready to fight the governor? The lines are drawn and the coming days will tell the victor and the vanquished.