A plot by some lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly to declare the state’s deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the state’s acting Governor has failed.
On Monday, speculations became rife that the Ondo Assembly was planning to declare Aiyedatiwa acting Gov.
State lawmakers had allegedly planned to meet on Tuesday to deliberate on the proposal to declare Aiyedatiwa acting Governor.
But the camp of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, it was learnt, didn’t leave anything to chances as it allegedly mapped out strategies aimed at frustrating the plot against the ailing Governor.
Recall that Akeredolu has been away from the state in the past six months over ill health. He travelled to Germany for treatment, but on his return to the country, he headed straight to his house in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, instead of the Ondo State Government House in Akure.
Following President Tinubu’s intervention, the Presidency, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, advised all warring camps to bury the hatchet and embrace peace.
The Presidency also extracted commitments from the different parties to this effect.
Aiyedatiwa, it was learnt, is to rather sign and submit an undated resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu.
This, it was further learnt, topped the resolutions reached during the peace meeting brokered by President Tinubu in Abuja on the political crisis in the state.
On Sunday night, Aiyedatiwa reportedly met with some lawmakers in the Ondo Assembly said to be among his sympathisers.
At this meeting, it was learnt, the Ondo deputy Governor insisted that he be declared acting Governor on Tuesday.
Aiyedatiwa, it was learnt, allegedly queried President Tinubu’s intervention in the Ondo political imbroglio.
Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Olamide Oladiji, revealed during Tuesday’s plenary while presenting report of the resolutions reached at the Abuja meeting to the people of the State that Aiyedatiwa is to rather sign and submit an undated resignation letter to President Bola Tinubu.
Oladiji said three enforcers, including Ondo APC chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin; Secretary to the State Government, Princess Catharin Oladunni Odu and himself were appointed to monitor compliance with the resolution.
Oladiji warned politicians and others fanning the embers of war because of their interests to thread softly or the Assembly would deploy the full weight of the law to call them to order.
The Speaker added, “Our actions or inactions were governed, guided and directed by the rules of law even though futile attends were made to blackmail and throw a spanner in our wheel as a body of lawmakers.
“We just witnessed democracy at play. Democracy in my view is a form of participating government that provides for give and take, checks and balances. It is a process in which the actions and or inactions of the ruler and the ruled
are guided by the constitutions and the rules of law.
“The event which we all have just witnessed, provided an avenue for assessment and reassessment. It was a win-win situation.”
The Speaker, who also spoke on the newly appointed Caretaker Committee Chairmen for the 51 local councils, said all necessary constitutional procedure, including a Public Hearing were undertaken to give legal credence to the creation of the LCDAS before the Bill was passed into law.
He said, “Today, we are again writing our names in gold as we ratify the appointments of chairmen and caretaker committee members to man the affairs of thirty-three newly created LCDAs.
“Honourable colleagues, ratification of caretaker committees to take charge of the previously existing eighteen Local Government Areas of the State will also be undertaken by this Honourable House today.
“This became imperative, following the expiration of the tenure of the elected Local Government Chairmen months ago.”
