Against the backdrop of the alleged plot to impeach Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, some lawmakers in the state House of Assembly have washed their hands from the plan .
The lawmakers, including the Chief Whip of the Assembly re-affirmed his loyal and support for the governor, saying they will not be part of the plan to remove the government, as it could serve as a prelude to destabilizing the state.
According to some close sources in the state who spoke with the magazine on Tuesday, there have been some nocturnal meetings recently in Lagos by some Presidency officials and some APC stalwarts, with some members of the state Assembly, where the plot to removed the governor was discussed.
Governor Makinde and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are not enjoying good relationship at the moment as they are not aligned on the 2027 Presidential election. The governor has said publicly that he will not support the incumbent.
The sources informed that some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the Presidency are bent on removing Governor Makinde, and have been making efforts to get the buy-in of the members of the Assembly to make the plot successful.
For instance, a meeting was said to have held in Lagos few weeks ago, where the lawmakers, including the Speaker of the Assembly Debo Ogundoyin were offered various sums, raging from N100 million to N1 billion to carry out the plot against the governor.
Sources close to the lawmakers said a similar meeting was allegedly held with the Oba Rasidi Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland with the Speaker, who was allegedly offered the position in the House of Representatives, in the next election to get his consent.
The monarch, the magazine reports and the governor are reported to have a frosty relationship due to the recent political realities in the state.
Last week a former governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose claimed that the state government was planning to depose the traditional ruler, though this has been denied by the Olubadan and the state government who said there’s no rift between them.
Also, the wife of a former governor of the state, Florence Ajimobi was also said to have met the Speaker on the plot to remove Governor Makinde from office, allegedly offering him mouth-watering offers, including money to sponsor Ogundoyin House of Representatives ambition, and to secure a ticket for him in the ruling APC if he can spearhead the plot.
The Speaker is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with the governor.
Confirming the plot, the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Gbenga Oyekola, said he will not be part of the plot to impeach the governor, and that he was not invited to the alleged meetings.
He promised his unalloyed support for Governor Makinde.
According to a statement he issued on Monday, the Chief Whip claimed that some major political players in the state have been made offers to carry on with the plot.
“We found out that some people are trying to create division within the Oyo State House of Assembly against the Governor and the Government of Oyo State. I was never invited, consulted, or involved in any meetings or plans related to this,” he said.
Also, a member of the Assembly, Dr. Abiodun Babalola, representing Ibadan North East Constituency 1 has noted that the plot was revealed to them by the the Speaker during a meeting at the Agodi Government House, saying Ogundoyin informed them that he met with the Olubadan on the issue.
Babalola howwver said he was not consulted and had not been part of the meetings to impeach Governor Makinde.
“I was not invited or consulted, and I did not take part in any meetings or arrangements concerning these issues,” the lawmaker said.
The lawmakers said they will not be part of any plot to remove the governor because such can unsettle the unity and peace currently being enjoyed in the state.
The Olubadan and the Nigerian Presidency have yet to respond to the allegation.
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