Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Fresh concerns have emerged over the relationship between Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, amid allegations of unpaid official entitlements, political exclusion and the alleged sidelining of the Deputy Governor’s office.
According to Roving Reporters, the development has also fuelled speculation among political stakeholders about a possible rift within the administration, although there is no publicly established evidence that Governor Aiyedatiwa has initiated any formal move to impeach or remove his deputy.
At the centre of the allegations is a reported backlog of more than ₦180 million in running expenses, travelling allowances and other statutory entitlements allegedly owed to the Deputy Governor for about eight months.
Sources familiar with the matter claimed that the alleged financial obligations had affected the Deputy Governor’s ability to effectively meet expenses associated with his official responsibilities.
The allegations have specifically linked the non-payment to the office of the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omomumi Isaac. However, the circumstances surrounding the alleged withholding of the funds, as well as the positions of the Governor and the Commissioner, could not be independently established.
There are also allegations that Adelami has been excluded from significant political appointments and arrangements within the administration, including appointments into the State Executive Council, local government structures and ward-level political positions.
One allegation of particular concern is that the Deputy Governor was allegedly prevented from influencing the choice of a councillor representing his ward, with the process reportedly influenced by the Commissioner for Finance.
Political observers say such developments, if established, could raise questions about the political influence of the second-highest elected official in the state.
There are also claims that the Finance Commissioner had earlier informed the Deputy Governor in writing that the state government could no longer sustain payment of his travelling allowances, despite allegations that many of his official trips were undertaken at the direction of the Governor.
Another allegation concerns the absence of an official vehicle for the Deputy Governor’s wife, who, according to sources, has allegedly relied on the Deputy Governor’s personal vehicle for official movements since the administration came into office.
The development has generated comparisons with the experience of Aiyedatiwa during his tenure as Deputy Governor under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Some political stakeholders have questioned whether circumstances that Aiyedatiwa reportedly opposed while serving as deputy could now be emerging within his own administration.
Another area of concern is the alleged role of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, in matters relating to local government and chieftaincy affairs.
According to the allegations, the commissioner has increasingly handled issues in the sector without adequately carrying the Deputy Governor’s office along.
The development is significant because local government and chieftaincy matters have traditionally involved the Deputy Governor in a coordinating or supervisory capacity.
The alleged bypassing of Adelami’s office has consequently heightened concerns about the level of cooperation between the two offices.
There have also been reports that the Deputy Governor has recently stopped attending the monthly Night of Praise organised by the Governor, as well as Sunday services at the Government House Chapel.
However, the reason for his reported absence has not been independently established, and it would be premature to link it directly to the alleged financial or political disagreements.
Taken together, the allegations have raised questions about the extent of the Deputy Governor’s involvement in the administration and the state of relations between the two top elected officials.
Despite the growing speculation, there is currently no publicly established evidence of any formal impeachment process against Adelami.
Any claim of an impending impeachment should therefore be treated as speculation unless supported by concrete action by the Ondo State House of Assembly or other competent authorities.
The allegations against the Governor, the Finance Commissioner and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are serious and require clarification from the affected officials.
At stake, beyond the personalities involved, is the effective functioning of the state’s executive arm and whether the constitutional office of the Deputy Governor is receiving the institutional support, resources and access required for the discharge of its responsibilities.
Until the relevant authorities respond to the allegations, questions will continue to surround the nature of the relationship between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Deputy Governor Adelami and whether the reported differences amount to ordinary political disagreements or a deeper power struggle within the Ondo State Government.