The media staff working for Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been dismissed with immediate effect by the state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
According to Platinum Times, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olabode Richard Olatunde, announced this in a statement on Tuesday titled “Government House Media Team Rejigged.”
The Governor announced that all media assistants seconded to the deputy governor’s office have had their positions terminated immediately.
Kenneth Odusola, the governor’s press secretary, Oladipupo Okunniga, the special assistant to the governor for new media, and Samson Abayomi Adefolu, the special assistant to the governor for photography are among the impacted aides.
They must deliver all government property they possess to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Deputy Governor, according to the statement.
“Similarly, the Press Crew attached to the office of the deputy governor has been disbanded.
‘Consequently, all members of the Press Crew are to report back to their various ministries and stations.
“Equally, the ministry of Information and Orientation is directed to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office henceforth,” the statement read.
According to Platinum Times, Akeredolu’s move is in line with that of his counterpart in Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, who fired the media assistants of his deputy, Philip Shaibu.
After pledging his loyalty to his principal, Governor Akeredolu, the deputy governor of Ondo State made the announcement.
Aiyedatiwa referred to rumors circulating regarding his alleged disloyalty to Akeredolu as lies in a statement made through his media assistant, Kennet Odusola-Stevenson.
He asserted that the accusations were made in an effort to sour relations between him and his boss.
The statement was headed, “The blackmailers are at it again,” and it was made against the deputy governor of Ondo State.
In the statement, it is claimed that anonymous groups and persons in the state propagated the rumors in order to damage his reputation for political purposes.