HAKEEM GBADAMOSI writes on the intrigues and permutations that led to the choice of Dr Olajide Adelami as Ondo State deputy governor.
For weeks, the Ondo political atmosphere was abuzz with permutations on who becomes the deputy governor following the confirmation of the hitherto occupant of the office, Lucky Aiyedaiwa as substantive governor. Different caucuses especially in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state tried to rally support for their preferred ‘candidate,’ just as other vested interests attempted to aggregate what they believed were issues and factors that would determine the final choice. But Aiyedatiwa beat the imagination and expectation of most of the bookmakers and politicians when he eventually chose a former Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr. Olajide Adelami, as his deputy.
Adelami is not new in politics, having participated in the 2020 gubernatorial contest under the platform of the APC. He lost the ticket to the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who hailed from same town, Owo, with him. However, not much about the new deputy governor was heard after the 2020 contest.
Born more than six decades ago to the family of Oluka Oribokun by Pa and Mrs Amos Adelami, the deputy governor graduated from the prestigious Imade College in Owo before proceeding to The Polytechnic, Ibadan for his GCE A level and University of Lagos for his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration. He got an MBA degree from Ogun State University. He was the deputy clerk to the National Assembly until his retirement in April 2018.
According to inside sources, Aiyedatiwa was caught in a web of intrigues before he settled for Adelami. The option before him was to pick from either the Ondo Central or North senatorial district, as the governor hails from the Ilaje area of Ondo South. Thus, those whose names came to the front burner included: a former Chief of Staff to Akeredolu, Chief Olugbenga Ale, who was recently sacked by Aiyedatiwa, Jamiu Ekungba, Femi Adekanmbi, Jumoke Anifowose, and Banji Alabi among others, that hailed from Owo kingdom..The Director General for Akeredolu campaign in 2020 was another touted name. Also, some politicians within the radar from the Ondo Central were: Muyiwa Adu, Special Adviser on MDG, and Mrs. Bunmi Ademosu, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Razaq Obe, former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Omowunmi Olatunji-Ohwovoriole, among others.
The permutation in the political circle was that the northern zone, especially Owo, should be allowed to complete Akeredolu’s tenure in office which will expire in February 2025, before power shift to the southern district. However, the announcement of Adelami to a number of people was a surprise. Foot soldiers of the speculated contenders were particularly amazed and have since gone back to the drawing board on the way forward, with the politics of the next governorship ticket gathering momentum.
A close ally of the governor, who craved to remain anonymous, explained that initially, Aiyedatiwa was at a crossroads over who to choose as his deputy governor because of the array of ‘candidates.’ So, he had to consult a prominent traditional ruler in the state to convince Adelami in accepting to serve the state. The source said the consultation became necessary because the governor had earlier approached Adelami, who respectfully turned down the offer. The source said the monarch prevailed and assured Adelami of the people’s support. According to him, Ondo is in a critical stage in its history, where political promises must be matched by actions.
The source added: “Aiyedatiwa settled for Adelami because of the belief of some power brokers, particularly in Abuja, that the ticket is a joint Owo/ Ilaje ticket and the best way to repay the Owo people for the loss of their son, Akeredolu, is to pick another person of strong character from Owo. In picking a deputy from the kingdom, the two initial people penciled down from Owo were Ale and Ekungba. Prominent Owo people kicked against Ale for failing to carry his people along in his aspirations to become the deputy governor while some Pro Aketi soldiers believed Ale betrayed Aketi by supporting Aiyedatiwa and should not be supported for the slot. Ekungba was seen to be too powerful and too experienced for Aiyedatiwa to handle and won’t be able to work with him. So while trying to look for someone that will be neutral and generally accepted by everybody, even people from the central suggested Adelami’s name to Aiyedatiwa even before Owo people suggested him.
“They said this man will be generally accepted by the power brokers and the masses. The governor did some background checks on him and he was satisfied that this man was accepted by the people; Aiyedatiwa did not look back in picking him,” the source claimed.
A leading voice in Owo also gave an insight into the series of consultations and engagements by the stakeholders on the process that culminated in the announcement of Adelami. He stated: “The battle for the mandate was fought by Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa. It is to the honour of Akeredolu that the ticket must be maintained. Aiyedatiwa must prioritize what will bring peace and unity to the state. The event in to he last few months has polarized the state both in body and spirit. For us in Owo, we are ready to work with him and bring about unity and prosperity to the state.
“As a kingdom, history has shown that Owo has been making sacrifices for Yoruba nation and Ondo State and Akeredolu’s tireless efforts to protect Nigeria and Yoruba nation came to us at great cost. Many of our people have suffered loss and hardship because of this attack. Our sacrifices must be recognized and honoured. Changing the mandate will amount to another terrorist attack on Owo. The issue on the ground should be approached with empathy, respect, and transparency to show that Aiyedatiwa is committed to building bridges and finding common ground with all stakeholders. Any attempt to erase Owo from the calculation until February 2025 by Aiyedatiwa in our opinion, is unfair, not equitable, and can cause division in the body politics.”
While speaking on the new deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa said, “The time for a deputy governor has come, because the responsibilities have been immense, and I am grateful for the capable hands of Dr. Adelami” He stated that Adelami was picked because of his antecedents, describing him as super smart, super intelligent and has a great capacity to work. The governor also pulled a big surprise before the nomination of the new deputy by dissolving the state cabinet. The dissolution caught many of the appointees unaware. The two developments seem to have pitched Aiyedatiwa against some stakeholders and the Akeredolu’s group, who believed the he should have tarried awhile on the dissolution of the cabinet due to pending burial rites for Akeredolu. Besides, there are claims that the APC top hierarchy in the state was not carried along in the nomination and appointment of Adelami as deputy governor.
Aiyedatiwa, according to a source within the party, did not seek for the opinion of the leaders on his choice of deputy governor. He reportedly took all the steps following the advice given by some national leaders of APC that he should look for someone who he can trust and work with.
The scepticism over the action of Aiyedatiwa necessitated the stakeholders meeting called by the governor, last Monday. The governor disclosed that the meeting became imperative for party members to come together as one united family, and hinted that the state governor’s seat is not currently vacant. The governor said, “We must all come together as one family to work together for the progress of our party, knowing for sure this is an election here for us. An election to the office of the governor of Ondo state, even though the seat is not vacant currently. Let us work together In oneness and in peace so that our party, APC will continue to govern this state.”
An APC group, Progressives Mandate Renewal (PMR) flayed Aiyedatiwa, for planning to hijack the party structure ahead of the governorship election and condemned the exclusion of critical actors in the party, but said the members of the party will not be boxed into surrendering the party structure to him. The group coordinator, Samson Ogunyemi said the plots hatched by Aiyedatiwa to sidelined some party members, advising him to be concerned with the crisis brewing in the party rather than causing more division within the party. He said, “We are not against anybody contesting or having interest in the governorship seat, but what we are against is sidelining of other aspirants. The governor is just playing to the gallery, the national secretariat of the party has spoken on automatic ticket. He’s a joker, the ticket won’t be handed over to him on the platter. Governor Aiyedatiwa should wake up from his sleep, by April, he would know if truly there’s no vacancy. Instead of uniting the party, he is deliberately widening the crisis. His declaration that the seat he’s occupying isn’t vacant showed that he deliberately shut out the governorship aspirants to be able to blow his trumpet.
Aiyedatiwa is afraid of primary because, he knows he won’t win. Talk is cheap. He should be prepared for the April contest.”
A party member warned against the move to hijack the structure, and said dissolving the party structure might spell doom not only for the party but for all aspirants. According to him, some sycophants have started putting pressure on Aiyedatiwa to dissolve the existing political structure.
The top party member said though, dissolving party leadership might pave way for Aiyedatiwa’s loyalists to take over the affairs of the party but said the development may attract the anger of the APC leaders whose nominees would be forced out of office. According to him, the APC structure in the state remains in the firm grip of Adetimehin, the party’s chairman, while there is no love lost between Aiyedatiwa and the chairman. “This plays out during the inauguration of Aiyedatiwa as the governor of the state,
Adetimehin was openly booed by Aiyedatiwa supporters at the Cocoa Conference Hall”
The party Chieftain said there is need for Aiyedatiwa to unite the party than causing division. He said this is one of the reasons President Bola Tinubu tasked Aiyedatiwa to unite the party and the first step, should be consultation with party leaders and other stakeholders by the governor in picking his deputy. The chieftain said: “It is the prerogative of the governor to pick his deputy. The consultation will be a mere formality because he has a bigger task of winning the primary.
Some of these people being paraded are not on the cards. What Aiyedatiwa needs is a politician because he is not a politician. The party is not united. He has been told to bring everybody together. His manner of consultation before picking his deputy would determine how far he is willing to go to ensure party unity.”
However, with the final approval of Adelami as the deputy governor of the state, things will begin to take shape in the next weeks with the inauguration of Adelami, who is seen as a stabilizer as many argued that his coming on board might change the tide by drawing support for Aiyedatiwa. But the truth of the matter remains that picking the party’s ticket will not be a tea party for Aiyedatiwa as he faces multiple challenges ahead of the next election.