Nigeria, Feb. 24 -- The outgoing deputy governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, has credited his political survival as deputy governor to God's grace and the resolute stance of nine lawmakers in the House of Assembly against his impeachment.

He also attributed his survival to the role played by the judiciary in protecting the sanctity of the Constitution during his trying period.

In a valedictory statement he signed as outgoing deputy governor of the state on Wednesday, Mr Ajayi said he entered political service with the mind to pursue a better quality of life for those he was called to serve.

Mr Ajayi became alienated in office as deputy governor once he began to nurse the ambition to run against his boss, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

Well ...