Opinion: Deconstructing The Nebulous Allegations Against Lucky Aiyedatiwa – Allen Sowore (Esq.)
Without this intervention, the lawyer who drafted the 14 infamous and nebulous allegations against the embattled deputy governor of our dear state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, would be pulling the wool over our eyes while he also enjoys his legal fees — bragging that he has nailed the deputy governor. It is disheartening at a critical time when men and women of good conscience and patriotism should be asking the pertinent question: Where is Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN CON, the man who was elected to govern the state?
In this analysis, we aim to critically deconstruct the 14 allegations made against the embattled deputy governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. It is crucial to shed light on these allegations and examine them in detail to ensure a fair understanding of the situation.
First and foremost, it is surprising that the initial allegation regarding a N300 million armored vehicle is missing from the charge sheet.
Allegation 1: Press release and interview against the Governor, particularly as it pertains to his health. Apart from the fact that section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees freedom of expression, where exactly did the deputy governor make unfair comments about the governor’s health? The Governor has sacked all the Deputy Governor’s media aides for the same offense, yet there’s no evidence. The action of Mr. Governor in this regard is, in effect, an attack on press freedom. The media handlers of Mr. Governor have not disclosed any information about the governor’s health status and whereabouts to avoid misinformation.
Allegations 2 & 3: These are the most ridiculous allegations against the deputy governor. If I may ask, which of our laws regulates political conduct? What is causing division among the State Executive Members?
Allegation 4: Even if we want to extend the provisions of section 183 of the Constitution to the Deputy Governor, what the Constitution forbids for the Governor is holding any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever. Which other executive or paid employment is Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa engaged in that has not been disclosed?
Allegations 5 & 8: These are similar – collecting money to travel without actually traveling. It is funny how the drafters of the allegations have reduced the office of the deputy governor to in Ondo state. Let me explain from my experience in the running of government. There is a template for the arrangements of traveling for the governor or his deputy. The governor or his deputy doesn’t handle or see the money meant for their journeys. Those who handle the money are civil servants called Protocol Officers. They are the ones who make or write the proposals using the existing template. For Mr. Governor, it is about N6 million a day if he travels outside the state. The money is meant for the convoy – fueling of vehicles, feeding, medication, accommodation, and general welfare of the security agents, drivers, medical personnel, and the members of the press crew attached to the office of the governor or his deputy as the case may be. Where such trips are cancelled it behoves the protocol officers to return the money to the vault.
Allegation 6: The same argument as above applies. There is a Maintenance Officer, normally a certified engineer, who is completely in charge of the management and maintenance of vehicles. The purchase of any item in the state must pass through due process, Project Implementation & Monitoring Unit which is manned by the governor’s son, Babajide Akeredolu. If Babajide approved N5,404,400.00 for the purchase of batteries and tyres for the vehicles in the deputy governor’s convoy, all the blame goes to him because he’s the gatekeeper and he is to ensure that no item is purchased above the market value.
Allegation 9: Assault on his wife. I will never support any man who beats or assaults his spouse. This allegation, if you remember, was one of the first plans by the cabal to bring the person of the deputy governor to disrepute. But I think the woman didn’t cooperate with the evil agenda. So it remains in the realm of speculation until the woman herself comes out to confirm it.
Allegation 10: This is another nebulous, vague, and undefined allegation. N500 million for the administration of the local governments. We have the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which is directly in charge of the administration of the 18 local government areas in the state. What about the chairmen who are directly responsible for their respective LGAs? Who initiated the proposal? Which account was it taken from? Who approved it?
Allegation 11: Bribery allegations must be supported by concrete evidence, including information on the source, recipient, and circumstances surrounding the alleged bribe. Was the bribe paid directly into the personal account of the deputy governor? Which of the kings made the payment?
Allegations 12-14: These allegations concern the management of the funds meant for the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which I’m sure has an executive officer. If anything goes wrong, you have to arrest and prosecute him first. If the deputy governor is culpable or fails in his supervisory role, his offense would be negligence or an assessor. He’s obviously not the principal suspect.
However, you cannot tell us that the deputy governor is directly responsible for the management of funds meant for an agency that has an executive officer.
In conclusion, while examining the allegations against Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, it is essential to maintain a fair and evidence-based approach, considering all aspects of the situation and involving relevant authorities to ascertain the truth.
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