Following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inteverntion in the onging rift between the incumbent governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa which advised status quo be maintained, some lawmakers supporting the deputy governor, Tuesday, insisted that Aiyedatiwa should be declared acting governor.
This development comes after the state assembly held its first plenary session with several interpretations adduced on the outcome of the meeting with some supporters loyal to the deputy governor insisting that the resolution was for him to be declared acting governor.
Sources within Akeredolu’s cabinet said plots were uncovered to ambush the governor and declare Aiyedatiwa acting governor against the agreement reached with the President.
It would be recalled thatTinubu had advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace, eliciting commitments to this effect, the President’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale had said.
This followed marathon talks in the State House, Abuja, between the President and the Deputy Governor, representatives of Governor Akeredolu, federal and state lawmakers of Ondo, officials of the All Progressives’ Congress, and other stakeholders.
Under the agreement, Governor Akeredolu remains Chief Executive of the State, Aiyedatiwa remains Deputy Governor.
Members of the State Executive Council, the House of Assembly and the APC Chapter in Ondo State will remain in their posts.
Aiyedatiwa who affirmed the 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 and that what 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 Ondo State.
Further according to the Ondo State Deputy Governor: “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 Speaker of the Ondo 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, stated, “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. We have taken every word you said. And we are going home as one united family under the party, APC.”
Ondo State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, expressed delight at the outcome of Friday’s late night deliberations, affirming that the party will remain a watchdog to ensure that the new commitments are adhered to.
“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 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 stated.
