Gov Akeredolu Rejects Apology By Deputy, Counsels Him To Take Plea To House Of Assembly

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has replied to the apology tendered to him by his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over the strained relationship between them, saying it was misplaced and urged  him to take his plea to the House of Assembly.

A statement by Doyin Odebowale, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor, explained that the Governor, does not meddle in the affairs of the House of Assembly as subtly suggested at the press conference.

“There has never been any time when the Governor ‘persuaded’ the ‘distinguished members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered’ by the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the face of an impeachment move against the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“The Governor, a Senior Advocate of over two decades, possesses a deep understanding of constitutional democracy.”

The statement: “Our attention has just been drawn to the press conference addressed by the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, this afternoon, the 26th day of October, 2023, and we hasten to make clarifications as regards certain assertions contained therein.

“While Mr Governor may not be averse to embracing, cautiously, any seeming overtures impelled by genuine contriteness, making the following clarifications become pertinent.

“The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, does not meddle in the affairs of the House of Assembly of Ondo State, as subtly suggested at the press conference.

There has never been any time when the Governor “persuaded” the “distinguished members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered” by the All Progressives Congress (APC), “in the face of an impeachment move against” the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“The Governor, a Senior Advocate of over two decades, possesses a deep understanding of constitutional democracy. Any snide suggestion of meddlesomeness in the business of the second arm of government by the Governor is repudiated with vehemence. Mr Governor cannot descend too low.

“It is interesting to read that the Deputy Governor also distanced himself from all groups and platforms notorious for maligning the Governor, members of his family and all those perceived as his close allies and supporters, in recent times.

“More instructive is the unfortunate reference made to “a series of events triggered by the health challenges faced by Mr Governor, which gave rise to misunderstandings, misconceptions, assumptions, and insinuations, and exploited by political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election.

“The good people of Ondo State are too discerning to be hoodwinked with dissembling equivocation. Keen observers of events, as they have been unfolding in the State, cannot miss the import of the malicious intents, insensitive posturing and diabolical projections of the last six months in the Government of the Sunshine State.

“The major sponsors of these acts of subterfuge should be ashamed of themselves. The very suggestion that these brazen and shameless acts of moral turpitude happened without the knowledge of the projected, most prominent beneficiary and active enabler of this disgrace, should make meaning to those who towed this path of infamy.

“The best respect that all elected and appointed officials of the Government can display to the people should find expression in the unconditional reverence for the institution which represents them.

“The Deputy Governor referred to the allegations of malfeasance levelled against him by the House of Assembly as “all sorts of lies against my person in the media”. It is only decent that we advise him to take this defence to the same House of Assembly which came up with 14 allegations of gross misconduct against him. This is the only course of honour at this moment.”