The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has denied knowledge of the legal proceedings against his kinsman, Wale Omolegbon Odusola, who was arraigned for alleged cyberbullying over his Facebook criticisms of the governor.
Thefrontrank reports that the 53-year-old Ondo State-based lawyer, hails from Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.
He was docked on Tuesday before an Akure Magistrate Court over alleged “verbally and psychologically” abusing Aiyedatiwa on social media.
The court granted Odusola bail on self recognition.
Aiyedatiwa, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, claimed that he had no hands in the petition that led to arrest and prosecution of Odusola.
According to the statement, the governor has never authorised anyone to take legal action against any citizen for criticising him or his administration.
It reaffirmed Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to democratic principles, stating that he had long accepted the challenges and scrutiny that come with serving the people.
The statement read: “The attention of the Governor of Ondo State has been drawn to the petition which attempts to bring Barrister Wale Omolegbon’s Facebook criticism to serious scrutiny and prosecution for cyberbullying by the police authority.
“It is necessary to state unequivocally that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has no hand in it. The Governor did not commission anyone to petition the police against any citizen who criticises him or his administration.
“The decision to tolerate the pains of serving the people has been entered into since the day the Governor chose to be a servant-leader.
“In retrospect, was there anything anyone didn’t say about the Governor before this time? Did he ever frown at even the most insipid narrative? He was everything to many people and he never begrudged anyone.
“It is instructive to state that the Governor has expressly declined any assistance in fighting for him or on his behalf. Governor Aiyedatiwa is a democrat who understands the importance of discordant views in a democracy. He has not and will not commission anyone to fight his battles for him.
“Mr. Governor has, therefore, asked the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the case instituted against Barrister Omolegbon and work towards dropping the charges.”
Some indigenes of the state had described the arrest and prosecution of the lawyer over his Facebook criticisms of the State government as a “regrettable and misguided move” that undermines democratic principles which called to question the judgment of certain individuals within Aiyedatiwa’s administration.
They noted that subsequent denial by the Governor, “does little to erase the damage already inflicted by this reckless and undemocratic act.”
