By Ayo Yusuf
In a bid to reconcile the two warring factions of the party in Ondo State, the All Progressives Congress has asked the state assembly to stay action on its plan to impeach the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Hon. Aiyedatiwa and his boss Governor Rotimi Akeredolu embroiled in a running battle which appeared to have escalated after the governor’s return from a three month medical treatment abroad.
Despite obtaining a court injunction restraining the state assembly from taking any step to impeach him the assembly had within the week commenced impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor.
The APC has however inaugurated a nine-member reconciliation committee headed by the former Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, to resolve the issues.
During the committee’s inauguration the APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, stressed the need to ensure a sound working relationship between the governor and his deputy.
He expressed optimism that members of the committee who all have vast experiences in public service have the capacity to achieve the goal.
Dr. Ganduje said: “APC as a political party, we are interested in seeing that there is a peaceful coexistence and a good working relationship between the Governor of Ondo State and his deputy.
“In order to see how we can solve this problem, it is important to set a reconciliation committee. A reconciliation committee must comprise of people who have relevant experience, cognitive knowledge on the issue before us.
“We already sent a message that all further actions and processes should stop on this issue, now that we have appointed a reconciliation committee”.
According to him, the terms of references of the Masari panel include: “To interface and engage with all contending partner(s) with a view to gathering facts and circumstances surrounding the lingering impeachment process of the Ondo State Deputy Governor.”
It would be recalled that Hon. Aiyedatiwa recently obtained a ruling from the Federal High Court, Abuja, to stop the state assembly from impeaching him over alleged gross misconduct.
Justice Emeka Nwite had granted the four reliefs sought by the deputy governor, including an order to stop any proceedings concerning his impeachment and prevent Governor Akeredolu from nominating a deputy governor in his stead.
However, in a statement signed by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, the lawmakers insisted that they would continue to pursue the process of removing the deputy governor.
Hon. Adesanmi said the House, “will not abdicate or compromise its sacred constitutional duty to hold elected public officers accountable, particularly where there are prima facie serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power leveled against the Deputy Governor in this case.”
