In his bid to restore political stability in Ondo State, President Bola Tinubu has waded into the months-long crisis between factions loyal to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
This followed marathon negotiations between Tinubu and the deputy governor, representatives of Governor Akeredolu, federal and state lawmakers in Ondo State, officials of the state’s chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and other stakeholders in the state at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday night.
The president, according to a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace, eliciting commitments to this effect.
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.
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“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 Ondo State Executive Council to rally around the Governor Akerdolu and himself to “bring the dividend of democracy” to the people of the state.
Also speaking, the 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.”
On her part, the Secretary to the State Government, Oladunni Odu, said: “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 APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, expressed delight at the outcome of the deliberation, saying the party will remain a watchdog to ensure that the new commitments are adhered to.
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