President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stepped into the longstanding political dispute in Ondo State, fostering unity between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
After over six hours of discussions at the State House, Abuja, agreements were reached, preserving leadership roles and party structures. Aiyedatiwa pledged to unite factions, emphasizing mutual respect and cooperation.
While some express joy at the resolution, concerns arise among APC chieftains, urging constitutional empowerment of the deputy governor to act in Akeredolu’s absence for economic stability.
He disclosed that the President advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace and elicited commitments to that effect.
This means that Akeredolu remains the Chief Executive of the state, Aiyedatiwa remains the Deputy Governor and members of the State Executive Council will continue their respective duties, even as the leadership of the state House of Assembly and the state chapter of the APC in Ondo is preserved.
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 dividends of democracy” to the people of Ondo 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 dividends 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.
Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, 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.”
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On her part, 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 you. We have taken every word you said. And we are going home as one united family under the party, APC.”
In his remarks, the Ondo State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, expressed delight at the outcome of the deliberations, affirming that the party would 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.
Excited by the development, a group, the Progressives Mandate Renewal (PMR), at the weekend, hailed President Tinubu for his intervention.
The group, in a statement, affirmed Tinubu’s status as a leader of the people and a compassionate figure who values loyalty.
The coordinator of the PMR, Samson Ogunyemi, said the President’s intervention effectively curbed the arrogance and pride exhibited by those allegedly posing to destabilize the state.
Ogunyemi said: “The target of the deputy governor’s group is to declare the governor incapacitated and oust the governor. They were fervently rooting for the governor to be disgraced out of office.
“While the meeting was going on, the deputy governor’s group was already jubilating on social media. They thought the outcome of the meeting would be in their favor.
“For the deputy governor and his group, this is a defeated expectation. Their wishes and expectations have been dashed and defeated. The people of the state can now see the true nature of the deputy governor.
“We are particularly happy that the President has ordered that the status quo remain. This is the right step towards ensuring peace and understanding in the state.
“We will continue to appreciate President Tinubu and assure him of our commitment and undying support.”
However, some chieftains of the APC in Ondo State have expressed concerns over the intervention of the President, saying the state may not achieve the desired peace unless the deputy governor is empowered to serve as acting governor in accordance with constitutional provisions.
The party chieftains, under the aegis of Ondo APC Progressives Stakeholders, decried the continued absence of Akeredolu from the state, emphasising the detrimental impact it has had on the state’s economy and governance.
In a statement issued after their meeting, which was signed by the chairman of their group, Afe Olowookere, a former member of the House of Representatives; and Secretary, Raman Rotimi, a former Secretary of the APC in the state, the stakeholders urged the House of Assembly to empower Aiyedatiwa to function as the acting governor,
According to them, this step was crucial to effectively address the economic challenges faced by the state.
