By KEMI KASUMU
Hours after the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political crisis rocking Ondo State, some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state have insisted that the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, should be empowered as acting governor.
The APC chieftains, under the aegis of Ondo APC Progressives Stakeholders, in Akure at the weekend insisted that Aiyedatiwa should take over as Acting Governor in accordance with constitutional provisions towards resolving the political imbroglio in the state.
Tinubu had called for the maintenance of the status quo, urging Aiyedatiwa to continue as the deputy governor.
The DEFENDER recalls that President Bola Tinubu had, on Friday, met in the State House Abuja with stakeholders from the South West state over the months-long crisis between factions loyal to Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
It was gathered that there had been marathon negotiations between the President, Aiyedatiwa, allies of Governor Akeredolu, federal and state lawmakers of Ondo State, officials of the state’s chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) and other stakeholders in the state inside the Villa.
The President advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace, eliciting commitments to this effect, said the President’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale.
It meant that Akeredolu would remain the governor of the state while Aiyedatiwa would continue to function as the deputy governor, the Presidency said.
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.”
In his remarks, the 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.
However, the Ondo APC stakeholders, after their meeting in Akure, expressed concerns over the continued absence of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, stating that it has adversely affected the governance and economy of the state.
In a statement issued after the meeting and signed by the Chairman, former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Afe Olowookere, and Secretary, Hon. Raman Rotimi, who was also a former APC Secretary in the state, the urgent need for the House of Assembly to empower Aiyedatiwa to assume the responsibilities of the acting governor was emphasized.
“APC party members should be allowed to participate and determine those to be appointed or elected into political and party offices.
“Elders and leaders of the party must be recognised and given their pride of place in the party, rather than being neglected and ostracised by the party.
“The system of writing the names of party executives and candidates without due process will be objected to and resisted with all political and legal means possible,” the statement said.
