Ondo State Government has called the attention of the public to a disturbing and coordinated campaign of blackmail, cyberbullying, and misinformation orchestrated by a select group of individuals, including two certain legal practitioners, targeting the state government, the governor, and other senior officials.
It said that the latest attack was part of a relentless pattern of malicious behaviour from those whose only grievance arises from their failed attempts to secure political appointments, contracts, and financial gain from the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, saying that when their self-serving demands were firmly rejected—consistent with the government’s unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability—they resorted to despicable acts of blackmail and character assassination.
A statement, signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Idowu Ajanaku, read in part: “Recently, this group had the audacity to demand N200 million, falsely claiming it was for their activism in support of the governor and their so-called factional organisation.
Investigations have revealed this entity to be unregistered, fraudulent, and devoid of any legal or operational legitimacy. Following the government’s resolute refusal to succumb to this extortion, they launched a barrage of coordinated social media attacks, targeting the governor and the Attorney General of Ondo State with ridiculous and unfounded allegations.
“Let us be clear that these actions are not motivated by patriotism or public interest. They are calculated attempts to destabilise and discredit the Aiyedatiwa administration, which has boldly closed its doors to political opportunists and rent-seekers who view governance solely as a means for personal enrichment.”
“Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomes constructive criticism and acknowledges the importance of opposition in a healthy democracy. However, he will not tolerate blackmailers masquerading as activists. Under his leadership, the Ondo State Government stands unwavering in its commitment to transparent, accountable, and people-centred governance. Our democratic credentials are unmatched, and no amount of blackmail or propaganda will deter our mission to foster development and uphold the rule of law.
“We issue an unequivocal warning that those who think they can wield social media harassment and blackmail to intimidate public officials will face swift legal and public repercussions. These undesirable elements will be thoroughly investigated, and any criminal activities will be brought to light and dealt with in accordance with the law of the land. We are fully prepared to invoke every lawful and constitutional measure to hold these individuals accountable and expose their nefarious schemes.”
