••• Threatens to Slap Commissioner
A raging internal crisis burst into the open within the Ondo State Government on Saturday after Mr. Taiwo Gbamila, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Multimedia, launched a blistering attack on the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Ayorinde Olawoye and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omomunmi Isaac accusing them of sabotaging the Governor’s media machinery and plunging his team into months of hardship.
The outburst, which occurred during an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting in Akure and later escalated through a viral video, has sent shockwaves through the ruling party, exposing deep-rooted tensions, alleged financial suppression and open threats of physical confrontation among top government appointees.
‘We Are Dying in Silence’
Gbamila declared that members of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s media team had deliberately endured prolonged neglect and financial deprivation to avoid triggering internal crisis within the APC.
According to him, while some commissioners allegedly enjoyed unfettered access to state resources, those responsible for projecting the Governor’s achievements were left to “suffer quietly and fund official duties from personal pockets.”
He alleged that allocations meant for government publicity and media operations were deliberately withheld by the Commissioner for Finance for several months, leaving the media unit incapacitated.
Gbamila claimed the funds were suspended for as long as six months at a stretch and again frozen for another three months, insisting that the silence of the media team was a sacrifice made in the interest of party stability, not incompetence.
Finance Commissioner Accused of ‘Strangulation’
In one of the most damaging allegations, the Governor’s aide accused the Commissioner for Finance of unilaterally cutting off funds meant for public relations and media engagement.
He suggested that the alleged financial blockade crippled the ability of the Governor’s media team to function effectively, warning that such actions amount to internal sabotage of the administration.
Gbamila alleged that despite repeated appeals, funds approved for media operations were allegedly withheld without justification, forcing the team to “die in silence while others lived comfortably.”
Infrastructure Commissioner Accused of Blocking Media Coverage
The Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing was also accused of deliberately frustrating efforts to showcase government projects.
Gbamila alleged that the commissioner repeatedly ignored calls and official messages from the media team and the Office of the Chief Press Secretary, leading to the collapse of a scheduled meeting meant to coordinate media coverage of ongoing projects.
He further accused the commissioner of directing contractors handling state projects to bar journalists and media personnel from accessing project sites unless personal approval was granted.
According to Gbamila, the alleged directive effectively blocked visual and documentary evidence of government performance from reaching the public, thereby undermining the Governor’s image.
Slap Threat Rocks APC Meeting
The crisis took a dramatic turn when Gbamila openly admitted that he nearly physically assaulted the Infrastructure Commissioner during the meeting.
He stated that only his respect for Governor Aiyedatiwa prevented the confrontation from escalating into violence, declaring that he would have “reacted physically” if the remarks against the media team had been made outside the Governor’s presence.
Gbamila challenged the commissioner to repeat the alleged statements elsewhere, boasting that he would not hesitate to slap him, a declaration that stunned party leaders and attendees at the meeting.
The threat has since sparked outrage within political circles, with critics describing it as reckless, inflammatory and damaging to the image of the administration.
Claims of Unequal Privileges and Intimidation
Gbamila further alleged that while some commissioners freely enjoyed official vehicles and state-funded comforts, other appointees were forced to rely on personal resources to carry out official assignments.
He accused unnamed officials of lavish spending without accountability, while professionals engaged to support government communication allegedly went unpaid.
Warning of looming consequences, the aide declared that those undermining the media team would “leave the government empty-handed,” insisting that silence should not be mistaken for weakness.
Defiance, Fallout and Growing Pressure
In a defiant stance, Gbamila said he was unafraid of losing his appointment over the controversy, insisting that speaking out was preferable to quiet oppression.
He argued that remaining silent while internal forces allegedly dismantled the Governor’s communication structure would amount to destroying both personal dignity and the administration itself.
Political observers say the explosive episode has intensified scrutiny of internal coordination, discipline and financial transparency within Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration, with mounting pressure on APC leadership to intervene before the crisis deepens.
As at press time, neither the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing nor the Commissioner for Finance had issued an official response to the allegations.
