Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has denied responsibility for the altercation on Saturday between state police commissioner Bolaji Salami and deputy governor Agoola Ajayi.
How Mr Salami prevented Mr Ajayi from leaving the government house with an official vehicle has been widely reported by the media.
Mr Salami said that he has recently caught the wind of Mr Ajayi ‘s decision to defect from the ruling All Progressive Congress ( APC) to the opposition People’s Democratic Party ( PDP), an action he said would make him unqualified for any official benefits.
In response, Mr Ajayi argued that as the incumbent deputy governor, he would enjoy the perks of office. He said he had used his personal funds to buy the Toyota Hilux truck from which he was denied entry.
The deputy governor eventually left the government house in another vehicle after several hours of delay, to his private residence.
It was however believed that the drama may not be unrelated to Mr Ajayi ‘s move to contest his boss, Mr Akeredolu, at the forthcoming election to governorship.
The deputy governor’s spokesperson, Tope Okeowo, confirmed to our correspondent that his principal has perfected plans to decamp to PDP this week. He was, however, silent on whether his princpal will seek the PDP ticket.
Mr Salami also revealed that he was only at the scene on Saturday evening to keep peace amongst opposition supporters of the governor and deputy governor.
The commissioner said he asked the deputy governor to provide paperwork proving his ownership of the vehicle, but this was not immediately done.
In addition, the police boss denied being used by the governor, saying the deputy governor called him on Sunday morning during which the issue was properly addressed.
Mr Akeredolu in a statement signed by his spokesman, Segun Ajiboye, in his reaction on Sunday afternoon said reports linking him to the Saturday incident were false.
He said that he had not requested police commissioner to stop his deputy from leaving the House of Government.
“It should, however, be placed on records that it is a time-tested code in government’s business for officials to take inventory of offices and quarters before and after an official is moving in or out of offices or quarters.”
He said Mr Ajayi and his assistants were intercepted when they were about to leave the government house “with items wrapped in unclear ownership as late as 11 pm.”
“Accordingly, the CP’s intervention which was at the instance of an almost manipulated security apparatus at the Government House was most desirable to restore law and order. It becomes particularly worrisome and suspicious when aides of the Deputy Governor insisted on leaving the premises with items wrapped in unclear ownership as late as 11 pm.”
