I regret making Agboola Ajayi my Deputy. – Akeredolu

Akin Olubadejo – Abuja

Sunday July 19, 2020

The governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN was on lamentation spree while addressing Ajayi’s kinsmen during a campaign tour to Igbekebo, headquarters of Ese-Odo local government area on Saturday July 18, 2020.

He lamented  that it was a terrible mistake for him to have appointed Mr. Agboola Ajayi as the deputy governor of Ondo State.

The loggerhead between Governor Akeredolu and Ajayi started at the earnest inception of Governor Akeredolu’s administration when there was a clear indication that Ajayi is interested in contesting for the governorship election as Akeredolu’s successor.

As close associates that started the ticket together, nothing could have stopped the crises between both of them since none was ready to give up his ambition for reelection or succession.

The built-up conflict of interest ultimately led to the defection of Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he is currently fulfilling his ambition to contest for Governorship election.

At the campaign tour of Igbekebo headquarters of Ese Odo Local Government which is the exact political home base and local government of Agboola Ajayi, Govenor Akeredolu regretted that he turned deaf ear to criticism on his choice of Agboola as his Deputy even from his close associates, the choice that eventually turned out to be wrong and sour.

He reproved firmly that Agboola Ajayi’s exit from APC is a cleansing for better performance in Ondo State. 

The crisis of interest between the two of them led to the recent defection of Ajayi from All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he (Ajayi) is contesting the governorship election.

The Governor described Ajayi’s exit from the party as “a cleansing for better performance of APC in Ondo State.”

While soliciting for delegates vote on Monday, Akeredolu urged the people of Ese-Odo local government to focus on voting for him and refrain from bothering on the embattled deputy governor whose present predicament shows his decision was not acceptable to the people.