Akeredolu did not endorse you, stop exploiting his name – Late Gov’s CPS to Aiyedatiwa

The former Chief Press Secretary to late ex-Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Richard Olatunde on Wednesday cautioned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa against leveraging the late governor’s name for political advantage.

Olatunde emphasised that both Akeredolu’s family and his loyal supporters across the state have strongly opposed Aiyedatiwa’s alleged deceptive strategies aimed at gaining a political edge within the party.

Aiyedatiwa had during his official declaration to run for governor, stated that his late boss had given him his blessing and expressed a desire for him to succeed in office.

According to Olatunde, there existed a strained relationship between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa up until the former’s passing.

He added that the late former governor was taken aback by what he perceived as a betrayal by Aiyedatiwa, leaving a sour note in their relationship.

“While we acknowledge that the political atmosphere in the state is intensifying, we want to unequivocally state that the late Governor did not anoint or express a desire for Aiyedatiwa to succeed him.

“On the contrary, the relationship between the late governor and Governor Aiyedatiwa became strained and distant until his passing.

“Despite attending to official matters and meeting people from Akure, the late Governor intentionally kept Mr Aiyedatiwa, who was the Deputy governor at the time, away from him in Ibadan.

“Our late Governor was deeply disappointed and regretful of certain behaviours and character traits displayed by Aiyedatiwa during his health challenges, which ultimately led to his passing.”