By Kolawole Ojebisi
The reported brewing rancour between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi may have come to a head with the latest development in the politics of the ‘sunshine state’.
It was gathered that Ondo Commissioner of Police Bolaji Salami on Saturday night led a team of policemen to stop Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi from leaving the Government House with official vehicles.
Ajayi had reportedly wanted to leave the Government House with the vehicles, claiming he no longer feel safe in the premises.
But the Police boss stopped him, asking Ajayi to return on Sunday because he had orders from above not to allow him leave with the vehicles.
There is speculation that Ajayi attempted to leave with the vehicles preparatory to his purported defection to the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) on Monday.
The purported defection of Agboola has reportedly driven a wedge into the relationship between him and the governor
Ajayi is expected to contest the governorship election with Akeredolu on the platform of the PDP.
It is believed he would resign from the All Progressives Congress(APC) at Kiribo, in Eseodo Local Government Area on Monday and declare for the PDP.
Agboola has however ruled out resigning as Deputy Governor.
An alteraction broke out between him and the Police Chief over attempted removal of the official vehicles.
A widely circulated video lends credence to the altercation. In the video the CP was heard to have 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 (defecting) 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 Government House. The Governor is the one talking, give me few minutes, let me talk to my boss.”
But Ajayi replied, cautioning against repeat of 1983 political violence, alleging suspected political thugs had been detailed to attack him and vandalised his property at the Government House once he declares for the PDP.
Flanked by two members of the House of Assembly, Mr Festus Akingbaso and Rasheed Elegbeleye, the Deputy Governor queried the Police chief: “Are you a member of the PDP or APC? It is you stopping me now. What is your concern about my leaving from one place to another? Do you know how many hours I have spent here? I personally paid for these vehicles. You should not have put yourselve in mess.
“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.
“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.”
Recall that in 1983, the defection of Akin Omoboriowo, the then deputy governor of Ondo State, from the Unity Party of Nigeria from the(UPN) the ruling party in the state to the National Party of Nigeria(NPN) the national ruling party put him at loggerheads with his boss, Adekunle Ajasin.
The ensuing postelection violence reportedly left hundreds of casualties in its wake.
