Akeredolu: “I Didn’t Block My Deputy Ajayi From Leaving”, Says CP Only Responded To ‘Compromised Security’

…Suspicious Were Rife That His Aides Took Uncleared Items

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has denied authorising the state Commissioner of Police, Bolaji Salami, to restrain his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi from leaving the government house on Saturday night.

He, however, said that the drama that ensued between the Police chief and his deputy was as a result of effort by the police boss to restore law and order to the near security breach in the Government House.

In a video footage that went viral on Sunday, the deputy governor was seen trying to leaving the Government House with some of his aide but was restrained for hours by the Police Commissioner who said he was acting on ‘an order’.

CP Salami had told Ajayi that he was not going to be allowed to leave the Government House based on his concluded plan to defect from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party.

According to the police boss, he had already received Ajayi’s letter of his plan to defect to the PDP on Monday (tomorrow).

Ajayi, however, told the CP that apart from the fact that he bought the pilot vehicle with his own money, Salami was not in the right position to dabble into political matters.

But a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Segun Ajiboye, described the alleged involvement of his boss in the lockdown of the deputy “as absolute falsehood” “intended to play victim by the principal actors involved”.

He said that it was a practice in government’s business for officials to take inventory of offices and quarters before and after an official moves in or leaves such offices or residential quarters.

According to him, it became “worrisome and “suspicious” that some aides of the Deputy Governor insisted on leaving the premises with items wrapped in unclear ownership.

He said that the Commissioner of Police was only there following the compromised security at the Government House and to restore law and order.

”lt should, however, be placed on records that it is a time-tested code in government’s business for officials to take inventory of offices and quarters before and after an official is moving in or out of offices or quarters.

”It becomes particularly worrisome and suspicious when aides of the Deputy Governor insisted on leaving the premises with items wrapped in unclear ownership as late as 11 pm.

“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police intervention which was at the instance of an almost manipulated security apparatus at the Government House was most desirable to restore law and order.”

“Governor Akeredolu, however, reiterated his commitment to “the rights of all, including the Deputy Governor governor. But he has a duty to be firm and dispassionate in exercising the roles assigned to him”.

BIGPEN had reported that Ajayi had been in a running battle with his boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu over mounting opposition against Akeredolu second term ambition.

The governorship election in Ondo State has been scheduled for November 26, 2020 by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The battle between the governor and his deputy heightened after moves by Ajayi to defect to the state opposition party, PDP.