By Dr. Akeredolu O.N
If we say Tinubu was a Satan, Sen. Alashoadura was a demon, Hon. Ogundeji Iroju was a devil, Abena was not a Saint, Agboola Ajayi was overambitious, Prince Amodeni had a sinister plan, that is why they had a problem with the Angelic Aketi, then what should we say about this Ilaje cool-headed man who resisted all temptations of fighting his boss and was too dogmatic for our liking in the state during his period as the acting governor? This, I know for sure; Aketi’s ungrateful nature is now obvious to everyone. Even if the cleanest Angel from heaven serves him as a deputy, the celestial being will have a problem with his bigger-than-life nature.
After the AD lost five of the six governors to PDP in 2003 (when it was a federal party under the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-led presidency), Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, who was the only surviving governor from AD, tried everything to rejuvenate the dying party. As a politician who doesn’t believe in cross-carpeting, he started his political career as a senator from Lagos State under SDP and remained with the progressive fold when his colleagues sold out to the Association of Better Nigerians, a group championed by Chief Arthur Nzeribe with the mandate of burying the popular June 12, 1993, nullified presidential election won by late Bashorun MKO Abiola. When the dreaded Gen. Sanni Abacha became the Head of state, the Jagaban of Borgu aligned himself with the NADECO group. He was marked to be assassinated by the Kano-born Kanuri man called Abacha. As a man with divine protection, he heard about the plan and ran from Nigeria in female dress belonging to the wife of Chief MKO Abiola through the Idiroko/Semen border, termed NADECO route because the escaped members of this pro-democracy group went through this path.
As we returned to democracy in 1998/1999 through a transition program of Gen Abubakar Abdulsalaam, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu became the governor of Lagos, along with five other states under AD control. In 2003, after a colossal loss by the renowned Yoruba group cum political party in that electoral year, the dying party was about to be consumed by self-inflicted destruction due to leadership tussles between Chief Bisi Akande and Sen Mojisola Akinfewa. The loyalists of Akande-Tinubu moved out of the almost-dead political association and formed the Action Congress, later the Action Congress of Nigeria. In Ondo state, the party was not strong enough by 2007 but had Bar. Ademola Adegoroye is the governorship candidate for the general elections. He left for PDP when Dr. Olusegun Agagu nominated him as the Ondo state representative to the Odua board that oversees investments of the old western region. Following the victory of the Labour party in 2009, through Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu’s support, then ACN leader, and how Dr Olusegun Mimiko treated this his benefactor, Aketi enjoyed the unusual benefit of having all his campaign expenses paid by the former Lagos state governor, who spent fortunes in cash and kind just to ensure victory for the Arakunrin of Ondo state. Envisaging the possibility of assassination, two non-refundable bullet-proof jeeps were bought by Tinubu, one for Aketi and the other for Chief Tayo Alasoadura, who were the governorship candidate and director-general of the campaign for ACN in 2012, respectively.
The Jagaban of Borgu was said to be disappointed by how Aketi handled the financial transactions, noticed impropriety, and decided not to support him in 2016, now under a bigger and ruling federal party, APC. Having had the support of Anti-Tinubu elements in the southwest, led by Dr Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, Arakunrin emerged as the winner of the controversial primaries for 2016 and finally won the general election. During Aketi’s inauguration at the Ondo State Sports Complex, despite his tight schedule, he (Tinubu) came to the program. The ungrateful nature of Aketi became obvious when the newly sworn governor omitted his erstwhile benefactor from his speech. On several occasions, the supporters of the former Lagos state governor were ridiculed and relegated by the power-drunk Arakunrin. Also, the radio station, Adaba FM, believed to be owned by the Jagaban of Borgu, suffered as Aketi ensured the roads leading to this broadcasting station remained dilapidated. On one occasion, the general manager of this first independent radio station in sunshine state was begging the governor to fix the roads, considering the huge taxes paid to his government, but in his ungrateful nature, he asked the media guru to forward the request to his boss in Lagos state, meaning Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
In the same vein, His Excellency Agboola Ajayi, who had served as a Councillor, Chairman of Ese-Odo local government, and Rep member, was nominated by Aketi as his deputy governor in 2016 because of the huge resources committed by him to Aketi’s campaign before the primaries. During the general election, he was the chairman of the fund’s mobilization committee, using his influence in the business world to get money from his associates for the campaign. After being sworn in as governor, Aketi changed to his ungrateful attitude, forgot all the contributions from others, and favoured his wife and last child Babajide. Chief Agboola Ajayi, who could stomach the rubbish from the Ondo state governor, became a target of Arakunrin for political elimination. This Ese-Odo-born political juggernaut was demonized by his erstwhile boss and sold the dummy to his supporters. They even alleged him of over-ambition, desperation, and diabolical attempts on Aketi’s life, being the source of Mr Governor’s recalcitrant unknown ailment. After the failed impeachment attempts, they both parted ways in 2020. Today, Aketi’s erstwhile deputy has been vindicated, as it’s now obvious that it’s Aketi who has a problem, not his subordinate as he lied to the state.
Likewise, after he was sworn-in 2016, there were rumours that PDP dominated the Ondo House Assembly for the 8th assembly was planning his impeachment. A veteran politician from the southern senatorial district, Ore in Odigbo local government to be precise, Rt. Hon. Ogundeji Iroju was aware of the planned action of his colleagues that could destabilize the state. He pitched his tent with Aketi and fought for Arakunrin to the presidency, where he was the spokesman for the other twelve who were elected under PDP before former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Finally, he leveraged on the new G-13 members with the five elected members of APC, and the evil days were over for Aketi. The newly found G-13 members were pressured to decamp to APC with the promise of automatic tickets for a second term, which Aketi never fulfilled. At the end of everything, only Rt. Hon. Ogundeji Iroju had eight years in the legislative arm of Ondo state, courtesy of Sen. Tayo Alasoadura and H.E. Agboola Ajayi, who helped this Odigbo man. Time will fail me to enumerate how former President Muhammad Buhari, Prince Folagade Amodeni, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde (Abena), Rt. Hon. Taofeek Abdulsalaam and Ondo State APC members were mishandled by Aketi.
In summary, H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, of whom Aketi vouched before his campaign team (I was there) for a second term in 2020, that he trusted him and with this Ilaje man, he could close his eyes. Arakunrin also narrated how the deputy governor gave his bullet-proof jeep to him in 2012 when the one from Asiwaju had a mechanical fault. Having recovered from the near-death encounter, the worst governor in the history of Ondo state has descended his hammer of ungratefulness on the gentleman with whom Ondo state indigenes were having problems for the loyal boy role he played throughout Aketi’s medical leave of three months. This is a man who resisted the influence of anti-Aketi individuals in Ondo state, including myself, who were clamouring for him to reshuffle the cabinet and fire the cabals. The only compensation from the almighty Aketi was the sacking of Aiyedatiwa’s media aides, rendering him redundant before 2024. I don’t know H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; he doesn’t know me by face, though he must have been reading my innumerable articles against their government. I’m not surprised by the current action of this Owo man. One thing I know for sure is if an Angel serves Aketi as a subordinate, the celestial being will have a problem with him, considering his level of superiority complex, selfishness, and self-centeredness. This is just the tip of the iceberg; the near-death experience of Aketi has not changed his nature. H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa should be prepared; more evil and dangerous days are still ahead.
Dr. Akeredolu O.N, Leader Medical Team, 2026, Vice Chairman, Aketi-Aiyedatiwa Medical Committee, 2020.
Peoplesmind
