Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa once walked with the stride of a man carrying both promise and trouble. Now, as his projects expand, his critics have multiplied, and in Ondo State, a question hangs heavy in the air: who is quietly working against him?
The recent refinery deal has become the latest lightning rod, drawing fire to the governor. It began with the announcement of a $50 billion agreement with a private firm, touted as a breakthrough investment for industrial growth. Yet, within days, the deal was being brandished as evidence of recklessness.
In response, the Attorney General, Kayode Ajulo, issued a detailed defence, insisting that no state funds were risked and that every legal safeguard was applied. However, these assurances seemed to fuel more curiosity than relief.
Public interest immediately shifted from the documents to the intent. Lawmakers and political tacticians began to ask: who vetted the deal, who stood to gain, and who felt threatened? Even rumours of an EFCC probe (though quickly dismissed) travelled far enough to plant seeds of doubt in the public mind.
Meanwhile, outside the refinery debate, new angles of pressure are forming. Budget implementation is being criticised as weak; reportedly, less than 40 per cent of allocated funds were utilised, even as a supplementary budget of over N500 billion was requested.
To some, this looks like strained governance. To others, it hints at political war-gaming ahead of the next election cycle. For Aiyedatiwa, it is simply bad PR.
Civil society groups have also joined the fray with legal suits, citing alleged diversions of local government funds. Simultaneously, opposition parties claim the state’s schools are too costly and its hospitals are neglected, essentially accusing the governor of chasing prestige while citizens endure decay.
Aiyedatiwa’s allies believe he has stepped on seasoned toes. They argue that his industrial push has unsettled networks that profit from stagnation. In their telling, progress has a price, and powerful forces have arrived to collect it.
If they are right, Aiyedatiwa’s biggest risk was never the refinery; it was the people who wished it to fail. If they are wrong, Aiyedatiwa is in serious trouble.
