Allege Senate Leader’s involvement

The allies of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have expressed displeasure over the sudden substitution of the nominees from the state into the South West Development Commission (SWDC).

According to sources within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the camp of Aiyedatiwa, the preferred candidate for the SWDC Executive Director of Projects, former Commissioner for Energy, Rasak Obe, was substituted with Olugbenga Olufehinti, a nominee allegedly backed by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).

However, Ondo State’s slots went to Adewinle Martins (Okitipupa LG) and Olufehinti (Akoko South East LGA). While Martins was retained, the governor’s camp expressed outrage over Obe’s removal, viewing it as a direct affront to Aiyedatiwa’s authority.

Infuriated by the development, Aiyedatiwa promptly relocated to Abuja on Monday to express his displeasure with the situation. His allies within his camp labelled the substitution a “grave disrespect” to Ondo State’s leadership, criticising Bamidele for allegedly overstepping the governor’s prerogative to nominate state representatives.

However, it was gathered that the development is causing a political rift between Aiyedatiwa and Bamidele, amid the governor’s strained relationship with the three senators from the state.

Meanwhile, when contacted over the development, a media aide to the Senate Leader, Gboyega Akinsanmi, declined to speak on the issue. But the Director of Media and Publicity of APC in the state, Steve Otaloro, while describing the rift between Aiyedatiwa and Bamidele as unfounded, said: “While we acknowledge that some supporters of Aiyedatiwa may feel that the replacement of a candidate is a sign of disrespect, we encourage everyone to recognise that political appointments are complex and involve multiple considerations.”