- Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has commenced the process of selecting his deputy, with an announcement expected to be made next week after consulting with President Bola Tinubu for his final decision.
- As per reports from Vanguard, it has been revealed that the governor is leaning towards choosing a candidate from the central senatorial district as his deputy.
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- Sources indicate that the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Razaq Obe, is the preferred choice of Aiyedatiwa.
- However, there are party leaders who oppose this decision, claiming that Obe’s desperation for the position may lead to instability in the future.
- Razaq Obe’s appointment as a commissioner was recommended by Betty Akeredolu, the wife of the late governor.
- It has been learned that Sunday Abegunde, a former Secretary to the State Government and a former member of the National Assembly, is the preferred candidate among party leaders in the state. Abegunde, who is an ally of President Tinubu, was recently appointed as the Executive Director, Corporate Services of the Niger Delta Development Commission Commission, NDDC.
- Both Obe and Abegunde belong to the central senatorial district, which adds to the complexity of the decision-making process.
- It is worth noting that Obe, who is an ally of Aiyedatiwa, previously raised concerns about the alleged forgery of the late governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s signature by certain individuals within the administration.
- In an official letter addressed to Aiyedatiwa during his tenure as the acting governor, Obe highlighted the forgery and brought it to his attention. Sources suggest that Obe’s role in exposing this wrongdoing may be rewarded by the governor. However, there are party leaders who argue that Aiyedatiwa should select his deputy from the northern senatorial district, which is the same district that the late governor hailed from, as a way to honor Akeredolu and fulfill his terms.
- Nonetheless, there are supporters who hold a different perspective on this matter.
