The political crisis in Ondo State took a new turn yesterday as the embattled deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is expected to sign an undated resignation letter, according to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji.
This Nigeria news platform understands that the Speaker explained that the submission of an unsigned resignation letter would be in compliance with the agreement reached by party leaders during the reconciliation brokered by President Bola Tinubu in Aso Villa, Abuja, at the weekend.
Apart from Oladiji, other All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from Ondo State present at the peace parley include Secretary to Government Mrs. Oladunni Odu; party chairman, Ade Adetimehin and Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South).
The report of the peace parley was presented to lawmakers during yesterday’s plenary where lawmakers declined to approve moves by some members to pronounce Ayedatiwa as acting governor.
Before the presentation, the Assembly approved the names of newly appointed management committee members for 51 Local Governments and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) after their screening.
Ondo State, with 18 Local Government Areas, recently created 33 LCDAs.
According to the Speaker, who read the prepared text, other terms of the agreement at the meeting with the President are the suspension of impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor, withdrawal of court cases by Ayedatiwa, maintenance of status quo at the party, House of Assembly and State Executive Council; Ayedatiwa to function as deputy governor and not as acting governor and exhibition of loyalty by the deputy governor to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Besides, the leaders are to ensure that the APC structure is not polarized while the deputy governor is not to seek vendetta.
Oladiji said a three-man panel consisting of himself, Odu and Adetimehin were appointed to monitor compliance with the resolutions.
He cautioned gladiators fanning the embers of disunity due to political interests to thread softly, warning that they would face the full wrath of the law if they refused to retrace their steps.
Reflecting on the conflicts, Oladiji explained: “Our actions or inactions were governed, guided and directed by the rules of law, even though futile efforts 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 participatory 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 rule of law.
“The event which we all have just witnessed provided an avenue for assessment and reassessment. It was a win-win situation.”
The state has been on the edge amid jostling for relevance by political leaders since the return of Governor Akeredolu from his three-month medical vacation in Germany on September 7.
Akeredolu has not stepped his feet on Ondo soil since his return and collection of power back from Aiyedatiwa, whom he handed over to while travelling abroad.
To douse the tension, the President invited political gladiators, including Aiyedatiwa, to the Aso Villa on Friday night for a peace meeting.
The implementation of the resolutions is threatened by the action of some of the gladiators who have been interpreting the terms of the agreement differently.
Justifying the appointment of local government caretaker chairmen, the Speaker said constitutional procedures, 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 appointment 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.”