There were imaginary deep cuts and bruises. Then, scars so pronounced that those living several kilometers outside Ondo state could see it with their naked eyes. But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened. He met with the political gladiators in the sunshine state and called for a cease – fire and maintenance of the status quo.

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide, who read the details of the resolution, said: “Our resolution is that one, we shall embrace peace. Secondly, there would be no more dissolution of the cabinet, and the Deputy Governor would maintain the status quo as far as the House of Assembly leadership is concerned.

“We will maintain the status quo as far as the party leadership in the state is concerned and maintain the status quo as far as the leadership of the State House of Assembly is concerned”,the speaker said.

The parties traveled back to Akure,the Ondo state capital and resumed their pre-Abuja meeting positions. The Speaker of the House of Assembly who perhaps, the arrowhead of thecamp championing the ideals of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the state governor, fired shots at the then Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

First, it was what former Minister of Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) referred to during his ministerial screening as the test of loyalty. “May your loyalty not be tested”,Mr. Fashola said during the screening.

Mr. Aiyedatiwa’s loyalty was not only tested but it was over – stretched. He was accused of so many things including abuse of office and disloyalty. He endured for days before he showed the pro Akeredolu camp that he too is master of the game.

The pro Akeredolu camp summoned a State Executive Council meeting and merely notified the deputy governor who not only presided over the meeting but shocked his political traducers. He went along with them. He went through six memos before he drew their attention to the fact that he lacked executive powers to act on the memos.

The scale fell from the pro – Akeredolu gang eyes. They became conscious that trouble looms should the deputy governor fail to get executive powers and were too happy when President Tinubu summoned the two parties to resolve the political impasse the second time. The deputy governor was given the powers to act on behalf of the governor who would be proceeding on medical leave.

The Ondo state House of Assembly transferred power to the deputy governor with despatch thus preventing what could have led to a constitutional crisis in the state.

Days after becoming the acting Governor, Mr Aiyedatiwa, suspended the Chief of Protocol to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Mr. Bola Alabi Esq. and replaced him with the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Olusegun Omojuwa.

In the circular, made available to newsmen on Friday, Mr. Alabi is expected to go back to his duty post when the governor returns from the medical vacation in Germany.

The memo reads : “The acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has directed me to inform all members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries that the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor will be responsible for the preparation and signing of his official engagements for the time being”.

Besides, the Acting Governor ordered that all local government council accounts be frozen. All these steps a source well grounded in Ondo state politics said are all geared towards next year’s election.

Until the sack of local government executives last month , the creation of local government development areas and the appointment of new ones, the acting governor had no input in the nomination. However, he had been meeting regularly with the 18 secretaries of local government councils preparatory to throwing his hat into the political ring.

In politics, there is no secret. The pro- Akeredolu camp were aware of the acting governor’s political plans. The camp’s anointed aspirant also took steps to assert himself. The group made sure they whittled down the powers of the acting governor by sacking his men at the local government councils. Some aides attached to the deputy governor were also sacked particularly those on the media desk.

Those grounded in the politics of the state hinted that in the coming days,the Acting Governor’s hammer may fall on his perceived political enemies.

The Acting Governor is financially empowered now than ever before for any political adventure as the Presidency has disbursed N9 billion to the 36 states of the Federation.

President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said N7 billion was disbursed to states for infrastructural development, while the remaining was for fuel subsidy palliative.

In a post on X, he said the revenue allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, has been increased.

According to Mr. Onanuga: “The 36 Nigerian states have enjoyed unprecedented support from the Bola Tinubu presidency, having recently been given N7 billion each for infrastructure support, in addition to the N2 billion earlier given as fuel subsidy palliative.

“The revenue allocations to all the tiers of government by Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) have also been on the increase since June.

“State governors thus have no reason not to do a lot for their people, instead of the obsession with the centre. In spending money on roads and other infrastructure, many jobs will be created and people will have money to spend.

“Let the states therefore get cracking to give succour to our people. Let the mass media also monitor the states to ensure that the funds are wisely spent”, Mr. Onanuga said.

The race for who becomes the standard bearer of the ruling party in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC) shall effectively take off in January 2024.

But predicting long-term political environments is quite complex as it depends on various factors like governance, socio-economic conditions, and public sentiment.

While it’s hard to guarantee lasting peace, ongoing efforts for stability and unity in Ondo State can pave the way for a more peaceful political environment.

Political will, effective policies, and citizen engagement play pivotal roles in shaping a stable future.