Amidst New Allegations Of Forgery, Ondo Dep-Gov Alleges Plot To Pitch Him Against Gov Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

The political campaign targeted at the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Agbooola Ajayi in recent weeks, has taken another dimension, following the accusation of alteration of academic records.

Purported documents circulating on social media had alleged that the deputy governor while serving as Chairman of Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State   registered for the 2004 May/June Senior School Certificate Examination as a full-time student of Community High School, Mobolorunduro with registration number 4291420/058.

It was said that Ajayi used December 8, 1980 as date of birth in order to be eligible as internal student of Community High School, Mobolorunduro, while deposing to an Affidavit for Correction of Date Of Birth on March 9, 2006, later on, at the Federal High Court, Akure, stating that he was born on September 24, 1968.

However, the Deputy Governor, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on New Media, Allen Sowore noted that the smear political campaigns against his boss are being sponsored by those he described as “political job seekers.”

Ajayi also attacked those he said are lobbying to replace him as deputy governor telling them to wait for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s decision before jumping over the board.

The statement reads that: “The attention of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi has again been drawn to the deliberate sponsored media attacks to smear his reputation by some unscrupulous elements and political job seekers.

“These elements will stop at nothing to blackmail others for political gains. We know them and their tactics. One would have ignored them but for unsuspecting members of the public who may take their rabid lies and propaganda for truth.

“Like every other public office holder in 2007, after Hon. Agboola Ajayi won election as a Member of the House of Representatives, he was petitioned.

“The Court of Appeal which was then the highest court to adjudicate on election matters of the House of Representatives gave its verdict and vindicated Honourable Agboola Ajayi.

“It is therefore foolhardy and unfortunate that those who should know better are still wandering and wallowing in their pool of ignorance over matters which the judiciary have given its final verdict.

 “In the past three months, the same stories aimed at smearing the reputation of the person of the Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi have been sponsored and planted in both conventional and online media platforms.

“The Deputy Governor will not be surprised if by tomorrow the same persons in their desperation start pasting; sharing the posters and handbills of the Deputy Governor, Alfred Agboola Ajayi to contest against the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN in the 2020 Governorship election.

“The ultimate aim of these job seekers is to create animosity between the loyal Deputy Governor and his amiable boss.

“The Deputy Governor is undaunted, committed and most importantly loyal to the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, in the collective desire to leave the State better than they met it.

“The seat of the Deputy Governor is an exalted seat, and let those who are interested in becoming the Deputy Governor in the next dispensation wait till when Arakunrin Akeredolu is ready to pick who will run with him in the next election for the further development of Ondo State.

“In the past, these same shenanigans have tried through other means to create a dichotomy between the Office of the Governor and his Deputy, they have failed. These latest media attacks too shall fall flat.”

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