The integrity of the Ondo State Government has been called into question following a troubling incident of abuse of power. This matter demands a thorough investigation.
Following Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s formal disownment of the petition and his directive to halt criminal proceedings, critical questions must be addressed. Who took it upon themselves to file an unauthorized petition using the governor’s name, thereby invoking the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the police? This action nearly resulted in the remand of a lawyer, Barrister Wale Omolegbon Odusola, if not for the wisdom of the presiding magistrate, who granted him bail in light of the strong legal representation he received.
With the governor distancing himself from the petition, it is imperative to examine how this situation unfolded. Ondo State cannot afford to have self-serving individuals lurking in the corridors of power, pretending to be more loyal to the governor than he is to himself. If these questions are not asked and answered now, tomorrow, it could be anyone falling victim to a similar abuse of government power. This incident highlights a dangerous precedent—where a handful of power-drunk individuals, emboldened by their access to authority, might start acting as petty tyrants, jeopardizing the freedoms of critical citizens. How often must the governor disown unauthorized actions before citizens feel secure in their rights? The government must take a firm stance against this reckless misuse of power.
If the governor asserts that he did not authorize this petition, his word must be trusted. Otherwise, whom should the people believe? The individual who recklessly used the governor’s name to ignite state-wide tension on February 18, 2025, must not only be removed from the governor’s inner circle but should also issue a public apology. This act—if we are to call it a mere prank—is far too costly for the people of Ondo State.
Following the release of Barrister Wale Omolegbon Odusola, who was arraigned at the Magistrate Court in Oke-Eda, Akure, on February 18, 2025, for posting a video on Facebook criticizing the governor’s project allocations, the Ondo State Government swiftly intervened with two official statements to address the matter.
The first came from the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, who, under Governor Aiyedatiwa’s directive, announced that his office had formally taken over the case of Commissioner of Police vs. Wale Omolegbon Odusola, currently before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Akure. The Attorney General reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and safeguarding citizens’ rights, while also emphasizing the need to address false or defamatory statements about public officials through lawful means.
In a separate statement, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor confirmed that the governor had no involvement in the petition that led to the attempted prosecution of Barrister Omolegbon for cyberbullying. Furthermore, Governor Aiyedatiwa did not authorize any individual to petition the police against citizens who criticize his administration. Consequently, he directed the Attorney General to take over the case and ensure the charges against Barrister Omolegbon were dropped.
The governor has chosen the honorable course of action by moving for the immediate withdrawal of the charges before the situation spirals further out of control. However, merely dropping the charges does not resolve the underlying issue. The credibility of the government, the governor, and the police has been severely impacted. Government power must not be wielded recklessly or without oversight. Someone must be held accountable for this abuse, as unchecked use of police powers can easily threaten the freedoms of ordinary citizens.
The individual who filed the unauthorized petition, falsely claiming to act on the governor’s behalf, has not only dragged the governor’s name into controversy but has also set legal proceedings in motion before the governor’s disavowal. This reckless move endangers both the citizens and the governor himself. It also raises concerns about the police’s credibility—suggesting that law enforcement can be manipulated by anyone invoking the governor’s name. This scenario almost resulted in an innocent lawyer losing his freedom.
The author of this fraudulent petition must be unmasked, and their source of authority exposed. The public deserves to know the truth. This is a case of power abuse that severely tarnishes the reputation of the state government, and it must be thoroughly investigated.
Who wrote the petition? And who gave them the authority to do so?
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