Ondo Assembly Divided Over Impeachment Of Deputy Governor, Eleven Members Accuse Speaker Of Acting Unilaterally

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State House of Assembly is divided over the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of the State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.  11 Lawmakers have kicked against the Speaker for singlehandedly acting on the matter.

The 11 members dissociated themselves from the decision of the Speaker to write the State Chief Judge to set up a Panel to investigate allegations against the Deputy Governor.

According to them, there was no time the House convened to take such decision as all members are still bound by the decision reached with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the impeachment.

A letter signed by 11 of the Legislators stated that “As members of the 10th Assembly of Ondo State House of Assembly, we wish to inform the public and the good people of Ondo State that the letter purported to have been written by members of the 10th Assembly signed by Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, dated 23rd October, 2023, transmitted to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, requesting him to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, came to us as a rude shock.

“The said letter did not emanate from any of the sittings of members of Ondo State House of Assembly.

“We wish to state further that the decision to transmit such letter by the speaker. Rt. Hon Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, in our view, is in the least unwarranted and uncalled for, in the light of the following reasons;

“The order of interim injunction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, of 21st day of September, 2023, which has restrained the speaker and Ondo State House of Assembly, as 4th and 6th respondents respectively, is still subsisting, since it has neither be vacated nor set aside. For us to act in contravention of the subsisting order of Court will certainly be contemptuous.

“The National Leaders of the All Progressive Congress, on 17th October, 2023, invited all the members of the Party, of Ondo State House of Assembly to the National Secretariat of the Party and pleaded for amicable and political solution to the issue of impeachment process, initiated by the House against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.

“Without hesitation, the request was acceded to, in the interest of the party and peace of Ondo State, by the State chairman of APC, Engr.

Ade Adetimehin and Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, who consequently addressed press immediately after the meeting. It will be untidy in our view to get back to Ondo State and act otherwise.

“The decision to transmit the purported letter of Ondo State House of Assembly dated 23rd October, 2023, signed by Rt. Hon Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, was taken without a formal sitting of the House and our knowledge as members of the 10th Assembly.

“It is our considered view that we should be honourable indeed by standing with our acceptance at the Abuja meeting to suspend the impeachment process and allow for amicable and political solution to the issue for the benefits of governance and peace of Ondo State.

“However, we reiterate our unalloyed respect and support to our amiable Governor, His Excellency Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN. CON, a man of peace and leader per excellence, who strongly believed in peace and progress of Ondo State.

“We equally call on His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, to earnestly tow the path of the agreement for amicable and political solution to the impeachment saga, as brokered by the National Working Committee of All Progressive Congress.

“In the light of the foregoing, we the undersigned members of Ondo State House of Assembly, wish to dissociate ourselves from the letter titled: Request to Constitute a Seven-man panel, to investigate the Allegation of Gross Misconduct Against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.”

Lawmakers that signed the letter are Japheth Oluwatoyin, Jide Oguntodu, Tiamiyu Fatai Atere, Gbegudu Ololade, Allen Oluwatoyin, and Abitogun Stephen.

Others are Tope Komolafe, Afe Felix, Oladapo Biola, Princess Fayemi Olawumi, Oshati Olatunji.