The Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources in Ondo State, Mr Razak Obe, has described as untrue claim that he paid to be appointed commissioner by the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Obe said this in response to Akeredolu’s ex-senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategies, Dr. Doyin Odebowale, who challenged him to tell the world whether or not he paid the late Akeredolu’s wife, Betty, or his son, Babajide, to secure an appointment as commissioner.
The development came a few days after Akeredolu passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Akeredolu’s deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has since been sworn in as the new governor.
Following Aiyedatiwa’s takeover, no fewer than five of Akeredolu’s cabinet members, including Odebowale, tendered their resignation, some of them citing their loyalty to the late governor and conscience for the decision.
In an interview with Objectv Media, which went viral on social media on Sunday, Odebowale alleged that some of the cabinet members stabbed Akeredolu in the back by wishing him death at the height of his sickness.
Describing the cabinet members as political nonentities, Odebowale particularly challenged Obe, to tell the world how he became a commissioner.
Odebowale said, “Aketi (Akeredolu) mismanaged his health. The perfidy of many of his aides was unrivaled. They wouldn’t allow him to rest; they wouldn’t allow him to sleep. He took ill and the next thing was: ‘When will he die?’ People started holding meetings against the man who never offended them. I will talk about Babajide (Akeredolu’s son) once Aketi is buried.
“All of the members of the cabinet were unknown entities, political nonentities until Mrs. Akeredolu and her son, Babajide, nominated you. It was Babajide and his mother who submitted your name, Rasaq Obe, you got it (the appointment) through Betty. You are now going about to tell the world that people are saying you paid to be made a commissioner.
“Come out and say the amount you paid Betty and Babajide. If it is not true, then explain how you suddenly became more important than other people in Ifedore. You were in PDP, you were in LP, then tell us how useful you are to your people that they would nominate you as commissioner”.
In his reaction, the commissioner denied paying to get appointed as a commissioner.
He alleged that Odebowale was part of the cabal that allegedly manipulated things in the Akeredolu’s government.
He said the cabal held the state budget performance down when Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was acting governor.
He also alleged that Odebowale was part of the persons who benefitted from the illness of the late Akeredolu.
“I supported Akeredolu and gave him all assistance in 2020. I followed him through the campaigns; so, it is not true to say I was a nobody politically. There was no need to pay the First Lady or her son for me to be made a commissioner.
“It is unfortunate that Odebowale is making this vituperations days after the passing of Akeredolu. There was nothing to quarrel about between Babajide and me”, Obe said.
It was gathered that both Odebowale and Obe were not on the same page before the death of the governor. While Odebowale was loyal to the late governor, Obe is alleged to be a strong loyalist of the present Governor Aiyedatiwa.
It was Obe, who wrote to Aiyedatiwa (as the acting governor then) that some cabinet members were forging Akeredolu’s signature while he the ex-governor was on the sickbed battling for his life.
