OPINION:Baseless Attacks on Governor Aiyedatiwa Motivated by the Politics of Entitlement and Misinformation
By Eniaiyeju Modesola
I read an article yesterday on Vanguard that I cannot but totally agreed with as it captured the unfortunate trend of unwarranted attacks against the governor of Ondo state, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa. After reading the article, which was titled “Vindicating Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa: Addressing the Bitter Grumblings of Idle Minds and Failed Schemers”, I felt compelled to express my thoughts too, having keenly followed the trending issue of the invitation of the Ondo South born lawyer, Wale Odusola, by the Nigeria Police, on social media platforms.
The truth is, the unfathomable hostility the Ondo State governor is currently facing is not only excessive but also very unexpected, because it is largely orchestrated by individuals from his own southern senatorial district. I say this with all sincerity. This pattern of betrayal and unfounded criticism is both disappointing and ultimately counterproductive, especially for those engaging in it. If there is anything to be learned from governance, it is that no leader can effectively serve while constantly fending off baseless propaganda from those who should be his strongest allies. I see people who feel unnecessarily entitled, forgetting that the business of government is far different from the operations of a family chieftaincy.
The state is progressing, with the governor actively implementing projects and policies that benefit the entire state. Workers are receiving their entitlements as and when due, and investors are trooping into the state. But what seems to be the issue? The governor’s people want a greater share of government dividends than other sectors, that is the only conclusion I can draw from the entire situation.
It is very unfortunate that despite the widespread acceptance of the unprecedented 18-0 electoral victory the governor is enjoying outside the shores of Ondo State, his own kinsmen seem not to recognize his worth. Not a single anti-graft agency has indicted the governor. Investors, who were previously avoiding Ondo State due to multiple interferences by the last administration’s family, are now trooping back to the state as they enjoy more decency, etiquette, and civility in governance.
Yet, within the state, if the governor’s family isn’t the subject of discussion today, then unreasonable speculation will surface tomorrow. What is even more worrisome is that, in all of this, the governor’s media team seems to be sleeping. I have combed the internet extensively to see what narrative they are putting out to douse the tension, but they neither engage in the discourse nor attempt to set a counter-narrative. It is well with them all.
A recent and trending example that confirms this unnecessary hostility is this case of Barr. Wale Odusola, who was invited by the police over allegations of cyberbullying and making comments that could breach the peace of the state. Contrary to claims that the governor masterminded his arrest, I learned that a youth based civil society organisation, concerned about the dangerous trajectory of these baseless attacks, had initially petitioned the police. The SSA on Student Affairs, the man who was unfairly made the scapegoat of the entire event by the public, found the same situation unreasonable and merely followed up on the matter, not as a tool of oppression, but as a responsible figure seeking clarity and taking moment of an issue that was already in motion.
That said, while I do not support the criminalisation of free speech, it is imperative that people take responsibility for what they say. Free speech does not mean freedom from consequences, especially when it is used recklessly to incite division. It is outrageous for anyone, especially a lawyer like Barrister Wale Odusola, to expect that the majority of Ondo state’s resources should be monopolized for the Southern Senatorial District simply because the governor hails from there. Governor Aiyedatiwa was elected to serve the entirety of Ondo state, not just one region, and stating this fact is correct. Leadership requires a broad and inclusive vision, not a parochial and sectional approach to governance, as Odusola appears to advocate.
Wale Odusola is not merely a lawyer; he is one of the privileged few whose family has greatly enjoyed the resources of the state, in fact his family members are the highest number of those in the inner circle of the government in Ondo State. Among his siblings is the current Chief Justice of Ondo State, the respected Hon. Justice Segun Aiyedun Odusola, as well as Mr. Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson, the Director General of Ondo state Radiovision Cooperation. One of them is also a ranking Permanent Secretary now prepping to become Head of Service. Another brother is the serving NBA chairman for the Okitipupa branch, who is presently using the NBA platform to issue threat and ultimatum to render the state ungovernable. We should asked what the Odusolas want?
In the video, he claimed he didn’t have the opportunity to see or speak with his brother. What he failed to include, however, is that he had been asking the governor to appoint him as Local Government Chairman. When that request was denied, he maliciously went after the governor, hiding behind the broken finger of activism. Given this pedigree, his conduct should be gravely condemned rather than celebrated.
It is disheartening to see him transform social media into a personal stage, and law office, acting like a comic actor and has no self-censorship on what he can post, behaviour that is unbecoming of a lawyer of his stature. He is the same individual who publicly disregarded his brother, a figure held in high esteem by every citizen of Ondo state. His actions represent not responsible activism but rather a self-serving display of validation and folly.
Before writing this piece, let me state that I had watched the clip that ignited this controversy more than three times. I asked myself: Did Wale Odusola truly refrain from cyberbullying or cyberstalking the governor? Did he avoid insulting the governor’s character and endangering the finance commissioner by insinuating a romantic involvement between the two? Let us examine the matter together. In an attempt to employ legal tactics, after having already promoted nepotism and parochialism reminiscent of the practices frowned upon during late Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration, Odusola mentioned hearing a rumour that the governor and the finance commissioner Mrs Omowunmi were dating. Yet, in a bid to appear rational, he quickly dismissed the rumour as untrue. However, he then inexplicably went on to claim that Ilaje men cannot view women without behaving irrationally, even suggesting that, if such behaviour were the case, the people of Ilaje would need to “secure” the governor who is an Ilaje. What did he do there?
Consider the potential consequences of such insinuations. Imagine the damage to the governor’s family reputation or the implications if the finance commissioner’s husband were less understanding, he could have believed the narriative or potentially leading him to complain that his wife is working with a governor characterized as an Ilaje man who cannot take their eyes off a woman. If Odusola truly values sincerity, he must recognise the gravity of his words and their repercussions.
By approaching this issue with a clear head, not driven by emotion, It is evident that Wale Odusola has bullied the governor and, in doing so, unjustly shamed an innocent woman.
Furthermore, without apology, I believe the conduct of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, in handling this matter leaves much to be desired. His press statement not only seemingly threw another government appointee under the bus, instead of reinforcing the administration’s collective stance against defamatory and reckless narratives, but he also composed it as if he were unaware of the involvement of the SSA Student. A friend in Ilaje informed me that the SSA was aware some youths were incensed by Odusola’s cyber attack and had even planned to confront him physically. Instead, they prudently followup on the petition to the police, which, however, is better than a physical attack that could have resulted in further complications. Had the CPS wished to claim ignorance, he could have directly contacted the Commissioner of Police in his capacity to inquire about the identity of the individual involved. Notably, I came across a statement from the state’s Attorney General, issued before Odusola’s own, where he calmly attempted to manage the situation without assigning blame.
If the CPS cannot understand that some of the governor’s aides will not sit idly while baseless attacks against their Principal continue, then he is inadvertently emboldening those who spread misinformation. His response not only weakened the administration’s image but also failed to protect a fellow government official from undue scapegoating.
People cannot just sit idle in the comfort of their space, hurling insults they wouldn’t even tolerate from their spouse at home, let alone from their staff or subordinates at work. It is amusing how everyone suddenly becomes an expert on governance, yet mobilising their own household to vote for them as an ordinary street representative would be a challenge.
It is high time people realised that governance is not a free-for-all attack ground. Not everyone will be indifferent to the malicious lies peddled against the governor. Until a scapegoat is made, individuals will continue to spread falsehoods without accountability. If Ondo State truly desires progress, then civility, responsibility, and unity should guide our engagements. The governor deserves fair criticism, not the politically motivated witch-hunt we are currently witnessing in the state. Governor Lucky does not need any additional enemies at this time, he has already faced enough opposition before assuming office. Any actions that impede the state’s progress must be strongly discouraged.
Eniaiyeju is an active Ondo state citizen, a Techpreneur and Developer who resides in Lagos, Nigeria.
