Gbamila questioned what offence the media aides had committed to warrant what he described as sustained hostility from the Infrastructure Commissioner.
A Senior Special Assistant to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Multimedia, Taiwo Ilesanmi Gbamila, has accused the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Engr. Abiola Olawoye, and the Commissioner for Finance of deliberately weakening the governor’s media and public communication machinery in a manner he said was designed to embarrass the administration before the public.
Gbamila made the allegations in an outburst following comments credited to Olawoye at an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting held on Friday at The Dome, Akure, where the commissioner allegedly accused the governor’s media team of “doing nothing.”
Reacting angrily, Gbamila questioned what offence the media aides had committed to warrant what he described as sustained hostility from the Infrastructure Commissioner.
“What exactly did the media of Governor Aiyedatiwa collect from you? Are they owing you money?” he asked, insisting that neither he nor other media aides had ever benefited financially from Olawoye’s ministry.
He recalled that months earlier, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, constituted a committee of media aides, chaired by him, to showcase the projects and achievements of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration, stressing that the assignment could not be executed without collaboration with the Ministry of Works.
According to Gbamila, all efforts to engage Olawoye were allegedly frustrated.
“I called him for several days; he did not pick up. I sent messages; no reply. Even when the Chief Press Secretary called him, he did not respond,” Gbamila said, adding that a scheduled meeting with the commissioner in October was deliberately scuttled after repeated unanswered calls.
He accused Olawoye of later instructing contractors handling government projects to deny media teams access to sites unless they obtained his personal approval.
“At several locations, contractors told us we were not allowed to cover projects unless we got approval from him,” Gbamila said, noting that he refused to be intimidated and went ahead with his assignment.
Gbamila disclosed that he eventually financed parts of the media tour personally after being frustrated, with assistance coming only from the Special Assistant to the Governor on Forestry (South), Hon. Bidemi Obayangan, whom he credited for supporting the documentary tour across the state.
VIDEO: Ondo Governor’s Aide Accuses Infrastructure, Finance Commissioners Of Sabotaging Media Team, Undermining Administration pic.twitter.com/4TPmhigZba
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He added that cooperation was also received from other government officials, including the Chief of Protocol, who facilitated access to the Government House for media coverage.
The governor’s aide also accused the Commissioner for Finance (Mrs Omowumi Isaac) of deliberately withholding funds meant for public awareness and media engagements for months, claiming that media aides “suffered in silence” to avoid destabilising the party and government.
“Last year, the Finance Commissioner stopped money for public awareness for six months. This December makes it three months again. Nobody talked,” he said.
Gbamila warned that persistent attacks on the media could have political consequences, insisting that the role of the media was to protect the governor and ensure his achievements were not undermined.
“If you have people you want to bring into the media, bring them. Nobody is stopping you. But you cannot run down the media we are part of,” he said.
In a dramatic moment, Gbamila said he restrained himself from physically confronting Olawoye at the APC meeting only out of respect for Governor Aiyedatiwa’s presence, describing the commissioner’s comments as reckless and provocative.
He maintained that he was prepared to face any fallout from his comments, including dismissal from office or legal action.
“If this will end my appointment, I will thank God. I will go to church and give thanks,” he said, adding that he would not “die in silence” while his integrity and work were being attacked.
Gbamila called on the commissioners to “fear God” and desist from actions he claimed were undermining the governor’s media team, warning that continued suppression of the media would not end well.