The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has said on Sunday, that he was very instrumental to the victory of the State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and his former party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2016 Governorship election in the State, .
Recall, that Ajayi recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, after having ongoing problems with Governor Akeredolu.
He made the comment in reaction to a statement by the Governor, that he was a wrong choice as his Deputy, in the 2016 election.
Governor Akeredolu was said to have made his statement on Saturday, at the meeting of the APC party Delegates, at Ese Odo Local Government Area.
The Ondo State Governor reportedly stated that despite the criticisms and attacks from various quarters, alleging that Ajayi was his cousin, he felt he made a wrong choice.
However, in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Tope Okeowo, the Deputy Governor said that such a statement from Governor Akeredolu could only come from a frustrated Politician.
The statement titled: ‘Re: I wrongly chose Agoola Ajayi as Deputy’, read: “We understand the frustration of Governor Akeredolu, over his inability to remove his Deputy illegally, through the instrumentality of the House of Assembly, having heavily induced them with State fund to do so.
“Many injuries Governor Akeredolu caused himself, cannot be blamed on his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi, who he has sidelined for the past three and half years.
“It must be put on record that Akeredolu contested in the 2012 Governorship election and came a distant third, in the election won by Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, of the Labour Party.
“It was the experience, weight, and political capital Ajayi brought into the 2016 Gubernatorial election, that produced the current APC-led government in the State.
“If there is any wrong choice, it is Governor Akeredolu who has refused to take all-wise counsel, not only from his Deputy, but by senior citizens of Ondo State.”
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