Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday, stated that no amount of blackmail or falsehoods against him would affect his loyalty to his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
  
Aiyedatiwa said lies being disseminated by those he described as faceless individuals and groups were solely brewed to tarnish his reputation and sow discord between him and the governor.
  
According to the deputy governor in a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, the false narratives against his person, which assumed different forms, are an orchestrated campaign by those who perceive him as a formidable threat to their political interests ahead of the 2023 governorship poll.
  
Ayedatiwa emphasised that those behind the blackmail feel threatened by his impressive profile, his strong rapport with Akeredolu and the overwhelming support he enjoys from the people.
  
He said: “These lies would have been ignored, but we owe it a duty to prevent the public from being deceived into believing the same falsehoods being repeated and recycled in different forms by those whose sole intention is to soil the image of the man, who they see as a threat to their political interests.  
  
“We need to remind the public that this is a continuation of the blackmail started by these same characters some months ago, with false stories planted in some media outlets against the deputy governor.   However, since those lies did not yield the result they envisaged, the blackmailers have returned with fake stories about disloyalty, aimed at causing disaffection between him and the governor.
  
“Many stakeholders have commended the deputy governor for the way he handled state affairs while he was the acting governor, despite all his detractors did to provoke him into taking drastic actions. He avoided their booby traps, and they tripped on their own banana peels.”

MEANWHILE, all media aides posted to the office of the deputy governor have been relieved of their appointments with immediate effect. This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, 
Olabode Richard Olatunde. 
  
The affected aides are Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media), Oladipupo Okunniga; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Samson Abayomi Adefolalu.   

They are to submit all government properties in their possession to the acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor.  Similarly, the press crew attached to the office of the deputy governor has been disbanded. 
  
All members of the press crew are to return to their various ministries and stations.  The ministry of Information and Orientation has been directed to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office henceforth.