President Bola Tinubu has ended the political crisis in Ondo State by facilitating a resolution among opposing factions, urging them to embrace peace and uphold the status quo.
The Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, pledged to involve all commissioners and officials in managing the state’s affairs, while Speaker Oladiji Olamide resolved to cease all impeachment efforts against Aiyedatiwa.
The resolutions came nearly after six hours of deliberations at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, where the President and state officials, including members of the All Progressives Congress, gathered until late on Friday night.
The Deputy Governor who declared his decision to maintain the status quo and unite all the warring 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 no offense, 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 in his past.
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“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 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 urged all members of the State Executive Council to collaborate with the governor and himself in delivering the “dividend of democracy” to the people of Ondo State.
“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 the due respect,” he added.
The Speaker of the House, Olamide, who read the details of the resolution, said, “We resolve 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.”
Friday’s resolution occurred just two days after Ondo State Elders and Leaders urgently appealed to the President to intervene in the constitutional crisis, aiming to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.
The Elders and Leaders also appealed to the state and national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, the governing party, to provide essential guidance to those in government and uphold discipline within their camp.
In a letter directed to the President and signed by the convener, Reuben Fasontanti, and secretary, Bakkita Bello, the elders pressed the State House of Assembly not to pursue impeachment proceedings against either the Governor or his Deputy Governor.
“All unelected persons should allow the three arms of government to find a lasting solution to the current crisis,” they had appealed.
Ondo State has experienced political uncertainty in recent months as Governor Akeredolu undergoes medical treatment in Germany. When he returned to Nigeria in early September after a three-month medical leave, he operated from Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
While Governor Rotimi Akeredolu was away, his deputy, Aiyedatiwa, faced an impeachment process initiated by Ondo lawmakers, alleging gross misconduct.
Meanwhile, president Tinubu issued a directive for the withdrawal of police personnel from the Ondo State House of Assembly premises in Akure.
Kanyi Daily recalls that Bola Tinubu will meet with aides of Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Lucky Aiyedatiwa at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, aiming to address the leadership crisis in the state.