— Says don’t fall for sudden loyalty

By Dayo Johnson Akure

A media executive, Akinrinlola Olumide, has warned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to be cautious of politicians showing sudden loyalty ahead of the All Progressives Congress primaries in May.

Akinrinlola, publisher of Star News, said in Akure that the Government House in Alagbaka is now filled with “familiar yet unfamiliar faces” who had previously stayed away from Ondo politics.

“This sudden surge of loyalty to Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is no coincidence. It is a calculated survival tactic,” Akinrinlola said in a statement.

He linked the development to a reported directive from the Presidential Villa that there will be no automatic tickets for lawmakers.

President Bola Tinubu and the APC national leadership, he said, have made it clear that governors are the party leaders in their states, and aspirants must get their backing.

“For lawmakers who once ignored Aiyedatiwa or even worked against him, this news is a cold shower,” he said.

As a result, politicians who spent more time in Abuja are now “parading the corridors of Alagbaka” to salvage their ambitions, Akinrinlola noted.

He alleged that a high-stakes lobbying effort is underway, with some of Aiyedatiwa’s aides and commissioners being courted with cash gifts to influence the governor.

“These lobbyists are not acting out of genuine admiration for the governor’s vision. They are solely focused on securing a return ticket. Their allegiance is as fragile as the paper their tickets will be printed on,” he said.

Akinrinlola warned that the influx of support is a “double-edged sword” for Aiyedatiwa.

He urged the governor not to abandon loyal allies who stood with him during tough times for “disposable politicians who only emerge when the sun shines bright.”

He also cautioned the governor’s aides against becoming “tools of compromise,” saying accepting gifts could betray the administration’s mission.

“Constitutionally and within the APC framework, Aiyedatiwa is the leader of the party in Ondo State. He should wield this authority with discernment,” he said.

“True loyalty is tested in the fire of adversity, not merely in the season of primaries.”

Akinrinlola said the governor’s main challenge is separating genuine supporters from those only interested in the ticket he controls.

“May wisdom guide him through this intricate political landscape, ensuring he remains steadfast and true to his vision for Ondo State,” he added.