In his bid to restore political stability in Ondo State, President Bola Tinubu, late on Friday, waded into the months-long crisis between factions loyal to the Executive Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
President Bola Tinubu waded into the months-long crisis between factions loyal to Ondo State GovernorRotimi Akeredolu, and his deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
At the marathon negotiations, which involved the President, the deputy governor, Akeredolu’s representatives, federal and state lawmakers from the state, officials of the state’s chapter of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), and other stakeholders in the state at the State House, Abuja, advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace, eliciting commitments to that effect.
By implication, Akeredolu remains Chief Executive of the State, Aiyedatiwa remains Deputy Governor, and members of the State Executive Council will continue their respective duties, just as the leadership of the state’s House of Assembly and the structure of APC state chapter is preserved.
According to a statement by presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Aiyedatiwa, who declared his decision to maintain the status quo and unite all the factions, said: “I want to say that I pledge to all of you that I embrace every one of you. I put behind all that has happened before now. I’ve let go and also let God, just as the President has advised us.
“And I want to say that with no offence, no guile in my mind whatsoever. All that has happened is politics. Impeachment is part of politics. If you survive it, it is also politics. It has come. I’ve survived it, and every other thing is in the past.
“It is one big family and our father has intervened to bring all the children together to remain under the same family and with the position that I occupy, I will carry every one of you along in every decision that needs to be taken and in everything that we do, we will work together; the executive and the legislature will work together to ensure that governance is on the right track”.
He pleaded with all members of the State Executive Council to rally around the governor and himself to “bring the dividend of democracy” to the people of the state.
“All the Executive Council members, I want to plead with all of you to cooperate with me, with the Governor, so that we can bring the dividend of democracy to our people.
“We should respect one another regarding the offices we occupy and our age differences. So, it’s going to be mutual respect.
“And I want to assure the party structure that we will work together because the party is supreme. We will always give you your due respect,” the deputy governor pledged.
The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide, who read the details of the resolution, said: “Our resolution is that one, we shall embrace peace. Secondly, there would be no more dissolution of the cabinet, and the deputy governor would maintain the status quo as far as the House of Assembly leadership is concerned.
“We will maintain the status quo as far as the party leadership in the state is concerned and maintain the status quo as far as the leadership of the state House of Assembly is concerned. Thank you, Mr. President”.
The Secretary to the state government, Princess Oladunni Odu said: “Our Father, the President, has taken the trouble to settle our rancour in Ondo State. We owe you all the gratitude, Sir. We will not disappoint you. We have taken every word you said. And we are going home as one united family under the party, APC”.
The state APC Chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin expressed delight at the outcome of the meeting, affirming that the party would remain a watchdog to ensure that the new commitments are adhered to.
He said: “Today is my happiest moment. And I know sanity has come to Ondo State. So, on behalf of the teeming supporters of our party in the state, we appreciate our leader, Mr. President.
“PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) has crumbled in the state; virtually, they decamp every day. The only problem we have is the one you have solved for us today. And that problem has been resolved permanently”, Adetimehin said.
Akeredolu returned from foreign medical treatment five months ago, but has been in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
