The unfolding drama within the Ondo State Government is no longer a matter of whispers, leaks or political exaggeration. It has burst into the open — loud, raw and damaging. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa must not allow politics, loyalty calculations or sentiment to cloud his judgment at this critical moment.
There have been persistent complaints from multiple quarters over the conduct, attitude and overbearing posture of some commissioners in the governor’s cabinet. These complaints, long ignored or quietly managed, have now collided publicly in a manner unprecedented in Ondo State’s political history.
What played out following the outburst by Mr. Taiwo Gbamila, Senior Special Assistant on Multimedia, is not merely a disagreement between appointees. It is a loud warning signal that the house is cracking — and cracking fast.
A Government Talking to Itself, Not the People
If those entrusted with selling the government’s policies, projects and achievements are being denied the basic tools, funding and cooperation required to function, then the administration is effectively sabotaging itself.
Governance is not only about performance; it is about perception, communication and coordination. A government that cannot tell its own story convincingly will lose control of the public narrative — regardless of how well it believes it is performing.
The video released by Gbamila, irrespective of its tone and excesses, raises troubling questions that cannot be brushed aside. Allegations of withheld funds, blocked access to projects and deliberate attempts to undermine the media arm of the government strike at the heart of administrative discipline and leadership control.
Overbearing Power Centres?
It is deeply concerning that, nearly 48 hours after these allegations went public, no categorical rebuttal or clarification has emerged from those accused. Silence, in politics and governance, is never neutral. It fuels speculation, emboldens critics and weakens authority.
If indeed some commissioners see themselves as untouchable power centres — ignoring official communication channels, sidelining fellow appointees and acting without regard for collective responsibility — then the problem is not Gbamila’s outburst. The problem is leadership drift.
A governor must govern. Authority must be seen, felt and enforced — not negotiated through public spectacles.
A Governor Who Knows Persecution Should Know Better
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s political journey has not been smooth. He has faced persecution, isolation and internal battles before fate — and resilience — placed him in the driver’s seat of Ondo State.
That experience should make him more sensitive, not less, to the dangers of internal sabotage, unchecked arrogance and silent resentment within his own team.
Those who live in glass houses, as the saying goes, must be careful with stones. A government already under intense public scrutiny cannot afford internal chaos masquerading as normal disagreement.
An Unprecedented Moment in Ondo Politics
History was made — and not in a flattering way.
Never in Ondo State’s recent political memory has a serving commissioner allegedly run down the media team of his own governor in public, only for another aide to respond with a raw, emotional and allegation-laden video that has since gone viral.
This is not normal. This is not healthy. And it is not sustainable.
The damage is already done. What remains is how the governor chooses to respond.
Leadership Is Tested in Moments Like This
This is not the time for silence, selective discipline or political calculations about who is loyal to whom. It is time for firm, transparent and decisive leadership.
Those with genuine grievances must be heard — not suppressed. Those who have overstepped boundaries must be cautioned — not protected. And those who have erred in conduct must be corrected — not scapegoated.
Failure to act decisively will send a dangerous message: that the governor is either unwilling or unable to rein in his own appointees.
That perception, once formed, spreads quickly — and is difficult to reverse.
A Final Word
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa still has time to steady the ship. But the window is narrowing.
This administration must choose between order and drift, leadership and silence, control and chaos.
The people of Ondo State are watching. So is history.
