Ondo 2020: Deputy Gov Accuses Akeredolu Of Bribing Lawmakers To Impeach Him

By Ayodele Oni, Akure

Tension is rising in Ondo state following allege desperate move by the state House of Assembly to impeach the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is embattled with his deputy over control of the soul of the state.

Agboola has fingered his boss in the alleged impeachment plot.

Both have signified their intention to occupy the Alagbaka, Akure Government House, thus worsening the crisis of confidence between the two former political allies.

Ajayi, last week, defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) to his erstwhile party, the People’s Democratic Party.

He has since refused to relinquish his position despite pressure on him to do so.

I remained the deputy governor, defiant Agboola, who has now picked the nomination form to contest the governorship election under the PDP said.

The impeachment move has been further fueled at the weekend by suggestions that some lawmakers have been financially mobilized to remove the Speaker of the state house of assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun, described as one of the loyalists of the deputy governor.

If the Speaker is removed from office, it will pave the way for easy impeachment of the deputy governor, who recently claimed that Governor Akeredolu is after his life, close watchers of the state said.

The Source has obtained a letter from the media Aide to the deputy governor, Allen Sowore, alleging that the plan was being facilitated and coordinated by 17 lawmakers, each of whom has been promised N10 million.

The letter reads “Mr Speaker, I’m writing this letter to humbly bring to your notice that arrangements have been concluded and strategies perfected by the state executive arm to orchestrate your removal as Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

This is to pave way for the eventual removal of the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Agboola Ajayi for exercising his constitutional right of association – leaving the All Progressives Congress, (APC) for the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP).”

Some members of the state Assembly have been bribed to impeach me, he said.

Therefore “To this end, invitation has been extended to the 19 of out of the 23 APC members of the State House of Assembly at the Government House Ground Alagbaka, Akure, on 28th June,2020, where the impeachment process against Agboola Ajayi will be finalized and financial inducement of N10m for their signatures will be offered.

“Mr Speaker, I have no reason to doubt your integrity. But there are desperate politicians in Alagbaka who will stop at nothing to armtwist the Honourable Members to carry out this illegal act.

“I’m therefore compelled to urge you in the overall interest of the good people of Ondo State, to stay away from this clandestine plan to remove the Deputy Governor at all cost.”

According to Sowore, the most desirable business of the House of Assembly now should be the continued probe of the recovered but now missing N4. 3 billion rather than embarking on a hatchet job to impeach the deputy governor.

But in a swift reaction, the legislators pointed out that
this allegation smacks of naivety on the part of the deputy governor and intended to cast aspersions on the noble image of members and drag the integrity of the House in the mud.

The lawmakers said in a statement that “It is on this premise that we Honourable Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly state unequivocally that this is nothing but a blatant lie and politics taken too far, least expected of the caliber of the Deputy Governor of the Sunshine State.

“But we are not surprised because he is a drowning man and he will hold on to anything to survive. As Lawmakers and elected representatives of the people we are aware of efforts by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to reposition the state and make it enviable among her equals across the country even in the face of obvious dwindling resources.

“How then can someone imagine the Honourable members to compromise their mark of honour all in the pursuit of selfish gains in this period of global recess which places daunting challenges on the economy of States around the world.”

The statement signed by the chairman house committee on information, Gbenga Omole, stated that members of the assembly are not ready to trade words with anyone as they are adequately aware of their constitutional rights and would never hesitate to exercise same when occasion demands for it.

“We do not need any inducement of whatever kind from any quarters to exercise our constitutional responsibilities as elected representatives of the people.

“To this end the body of Lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly refutes the allegation of 10 Million Naira each to facilitate the impeachment of the Deputy Governor,” Omole said.