A video emerged showing the police commissioner of Ondo State, Bolaji Salami, preventing the deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, from leaving the government house with an official vehicle.
Mr Salami said that he has recently caught the wind of Mr Ajayi’s move to defect from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to the opposition People’s Democratic Party, an action he said should render him unqualified for some official benefits.
But Mr Ajayi pushed back against the statement , saying that as the incumbent deputy governor, he would still be able to 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 encounter, which reportedly lasted several hours, came as Mr Ajayi stepped up his push to contest his boss, Rotimi Akeredolu, in the forthcoming election to governorship, according to those familiar with the matter. Mr Ajayi was the running mate of Mr Akeredolu in Ondo ‘s 2016 governorship election and has served as his deputy since his assumption of office in February 2017.
It was not immediately clear how the rift began between the governor and his deputy, but their fallout widened and became increasingly public ahead of party primaries.
The video, which appeared overnight on social media, contained both Mr Salami ‘s reason that prevented Mr Ajayi from entering the vehicle, and the counterargument of the deputy governor.
The Police Commissioner said in the video: “We are not saying you should not go out. Since you are defecting, even your letter was brought to me in my office this evening that you are doing it (decamping) on Monday. What the government is saying is that you cannot go out with official vehicles. This is politics, I am not saying it is right. This is a government house, the governor is the one talking, give me a few minutes, let me talk to my boss.”
Mr Ajayi has said in his reply: “I have tried all constitutional and acceptable means to prevent this crisis. You are being used by the governor to deprive me of my constitutional right. I am highly disappointed that a policeman of your calibre can be used like this.
“I personally paid for this vehicle. You should not have put yourself in this mess. Let me tell you, you cannot repeat what happened in this state in 1983 because Ondo State people will resist you and your emperor with everything.”
Tope Okeowo, a spokesperson for Mr Ajayi, confirmed that his principal was the one in the video. He stated that the deputy governor was told to come back on Sunday if he wanted to remove any of his vehicles from the government precinct.
“The two gates to the Government House was under lock and key while the stern-looking policemen were positioned at the gate to prevent the deputy governor from leaving the premises”, he said
Mr Okeowo also confirmed that this week his principal will be decamping for the PDP, but declined to clarify whether it was for the purpose of contesting for the governor.
The handling of the matter by the police was roundly criticized on social media on Sunday morning, with commentators slamming the commissioner for apparently allowing himself to be used by political interests — rather than upholding the police’s long-standing principle as an unbiased institution.
On Sunday morning, Mr Salami dismissed the accusation, stating that he was only at the scene to preserve peace among the governor’s opposition supporters and deputy governor.
“I was there to maintain law and order after hearing that the governor’s supporters were outside the deputy governor’s residence to prevent him from going out in a vehicle they said belonged to the state,” Mr Salami said.
The police chief added that when he got to the scene, he met many supporters of the governor and placated them with assurances that the police were only there to ensure that no damages were inflicted on humans and property.
The commissioner said he asked the deputy governor to provide paperwork proving his vehicle ownership, but that was not done immediately.
He also denied being used by the governor, claiming he was called by the deputy governor on Sunday morning during which the query was further answered appropriately.
“The deputy governor called me this morning, and he understood that I am a commissioner of police and I know the right thing to do whenever we encounter tensions between politicians,” Mr Salami said.
A Governor’s spokesperson, Yemi Olowolabi, did not return requests for comments immediately on Sunday morning.
Ondo election party primaries are scheduled to be held between late June and early July, while the election proper is set for October 10.
Mr Akeredolu has already indicated that he intends to seek reelection on the APC platform.