I can’t be committed after Akeredolu’s death - Ex-gov’s aide

Doyin Odebowale, the former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy to late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has explained why he resigned following the governor’s death.

Odebowale along with the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Aminu Raimi; and the Special Assistant on Photography to the former governor, Olawale Abolade, resigned following the passing of Akeredolu on Wednesday in Germany.

Also, the Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Dare Aragbaye, and the Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor, Richard Olatunde, resigned.

In their letters of resignation addressed to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, the two aides cited Akeredolu’s death as the reason for their actions.

However, Odebowale disclosed on Saturday that he resigned as he could not guarantee the same commitment he had with Akeredolu.

He noted that he had performed his duties with the full support of the late governor whom he said he had worked with for over 30 years.

He added that he convinced Akeredolu to contest the governorship in 2018 and that led to him holding the office of a special adviser to the governor to run the affairs of the state.

He, however, noted that despite his loyalty to the late governor, he has no issues with the newly-sworn in governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“I have worked with Akeredolu for 30 years. I was the last person who convinced him to contest in the last election. I wrote all his campaign content. It is more of a personal reason to me. I have nothing against whosoever is in office now.

“I have nothing left to do in the office when the person who brought me there is no longer there. I can’t remain in that space and pretend. I can’t be as committed as I was with Akeredolu because I got all his support. It was not politicking. He gave me the wings to fly. He was my brother like a family,” he said.

While fielding questions on an allegation of assault against a pregnant woman, he said it was fabricated, noting that he would never slap any woman.

He said it was orchestrated out of jealousy by those who felt he was too powerful.

He explained, “It never happened. How would I do that? I do not slap women, I sleep with them and I can not deny that. those who knew me in the last 35 years know that. About the allegation, the governor had directed me to move into the market following a report given to him that the place was not good, especially where they sell edible things.

“The Special Adviser on Health, Jibayo Adeyeye, and the late Commissioner for Health, Wahab Adegbenro, asked me to join them and we moved into that place.

“We have cleared the place for fumigation as early as 5 am. We then moved the traders to the Arakale Park. We did not allow any movement and that was the day of the bomb blast on Owo Road. So, when the bomb explosion happened, we had to move with the governor to the place but when we came back, where we had cleared for fumigation had been filled back.

“The following day, Akeredolu directed me to clear the flyover bridge at the Ore interchange. we started clearing from Arakale and we cleared the place with the assistance of the police of A Division and the B Division.

“In the incident where they claimed someone was slapped and some died was twisted. Nobody was slapped or killed. When the security video came and Akeredolu said he would like to see the woman, they all ran away. I now got to know that some members of the executives who felt I had become too powerful and whatever I said was what the governor would listen to were the ones who orchestrated it and those who were in the camp of Agboola Ajayi because of the way I dealt with him.

“My men were clearing the pedestrian bridge and as I turned, I saw that a Sergeant who was holding an AK-47 and slinging it across his shoulder was dragging a bench with a woman in a green dress.

“To avert any danger, I collected the bench from her and broke it. Then we moved. The video that came out after showed how the woman was laughing. those who felt Akeredolu had given me wings to fly and I was too powerful sponsored the video. Akeredolu also planned to visit the woman but they all ran away.”