Certificate Forgery Scandal Hits Governor Aiyedatiwa; Aide Accuses Political Opponent

Ondo State Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has vehemently refuted recent allegations of certificate forgery circulating in the media, dismissing the claims as the orchestrated efforts of political adversaries. The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, released a statement on Monday, denouncing the accusations and attributing them to a governorship aspirant seeking to tarnish Aiyedatiwa’s reputation.

Aiyedatiwa, who assumed office less than two weeks ago on December 27, 2023, following the passing of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, faced an earlier challenge of an impeachment plot during his tenure as acting governor. The recent allegation, according to Adeniyan, is a continuation of the political maneuvering against Aiyedatiwa and is seen as an attempt to distract the new governor from his duties.

In a statement titled ‘Certificates: the blackmailers are at it again,’ Adeniyan disclosed, “Our attention has been drawn to the mischievous plans by some political actors to embark on fresh unsubstantiated allegations against the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.” He went on to reveal that a governorship aspirant orchestrated a meeting where directives were given to concoct stories of certificate forgery against the governor.

Adeniyan clarified that Aiyedatiwa’s credentials were duly submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2020 governorship election, asserting that the governor remains committed to fulfilling his promises to develop Ondo State despite the attempts to undermine his credibility.

The unfolding drama is viewed as part of a broader political strategy ahead of the upcoming September governorship election in Ondo State. Adeniyan emphasized, “Mr. Governor will not be distracted by the shenanigans of shameless politicians and their cronies,” reaffirming Aiyedatiwa’s dedication to the welfare and development of the state.