Dep. Gov. Aiyedatiwa back in Ondo, slated to preside over cabinet meeting

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Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday, resumed in his office at Alagbaka, Akure, after leaving the state for a couple of weeks fighting against his impeachment by the state House of Assembly.

President Bola Tinubu had, last weekend, met with stakeholders in the state in Abuja towards the resolutions of the political crisis in the state, directing the maintenance of the status quo.

Against the backdrop of the existing arrangement, the deputy governor is expected to preside over the State Executive Council meeting today at the Exco Chamber.

According to the itinerary signed by the Chief of Protocol, Bola Alabi, journalists would not be allowed to gain entry into the chamber during the meeting.

Indications by a top member of the cabinet is that the “exco meeting will be held about three months after the last meeting was held in Ibadan after the arrival of Akeredolu from medical vacation.

“The excos meeting that will be held on Thursday shows that everyone is sticking with the resolution reached with Tinubu.

“All that we are focused on is the development of Ondo State, and that should be paramount in the minds of all of us at the moment.”

The political crisis had rocked the state over the stalled impeachment proceedings against Aiyedatiwa over allegations of gross misconduct levelled by the state House of Assembly.

With the development, the situation affected the governance of the state, with supporters of the deputy governor calling for the resignation of the governor over his continued absence from the state, while the governor’s camp alleged that Aiyedatiwa has been moving against his boss.

Following the situation, President Tinubu intervened in the crisis with the resolution that the status quo be maintained and both camps should embrace peace.

Days after the Abuja peace meeting, Speaker of the state Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, revealed that there was no resolution reached to the effect that Aiyedatiwa would be made acting governor.

According to Oladiji, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oladunni Odu, the state Chairman of the party, Ade Adetimehin, and himself had been mandated to ensure full enforcement of the resolutions.

He said: “Dear Colleagues, please permit me to formally welcome you to this hallowed chamber following the recent harrowing and tortuous political crisis that shook the entire state to the marrow.

“Without any iota of doubt in my mind, I strongly believe that we all acted in line with the mandate given to us as representatives of the people.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let me present to the good people of Ondo State the resolution reached after the meeting with representatives of Ondo State, the House of Assembly and State Executive Council members, members of the National Assembly from Ondo State, and the state Chairman of our party with his Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“That all parties shall embrace peace. The status quo shall be maintained by all parties. That all impeachment proceedings be deactivated forthwith and all court cases be withdrawn by all parties.

“There will be no resolution of the State Executive Council that the leadership of the party and the restructuring remain intact. That the House of Assembly leadership remain intact.

“That Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa continues to perform the function of the office as deputy governor. That undated letter of resignation must be written, signed by the deputy governor and submitted to the president.”