Richard Olatunde, the former Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, rebuffed claims made by the current governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, regarding Akeredolu’s supposed desire for Aiyedatiwa to succeed him.
Aiyedatiwa previously claimed that Akeredolu had expressed a wish for him to take over as governor, citing his involvement in the former governor’s legacies as evidence.
However, Olatunde during a press conference meeting countered this narrative, asserting that Akeredolu never harbored such intentions.
Olatunde cautioned Aiyedatiwa against exploiting Akeredolu’s name for political gain and clarified that the relationship between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa had become strained before Akeredolu’s passing.
He emphasized Akeredolu’s disappointment with certain behaviors exhibited by Aiyedatiwa during his health challenges, leading to a distancing between the two.
Despite Akeredolu’s initial hopes for Aiyedatiwa, Olatunde highlighted a shift in events and expressed disappointment and betrayal felt by Akeredolu before his demise.
Olatunde urged Aiyedatiwa to halt what he referred to as “deceptive tactics” and focus on his campaign, emphasizing that Akeredolu’s supporters, including members of his family, do not endorse Aiyedatiwa’s aspiration to secure the party’s ticket.