Peace Returns To Ondo As Speaker Warns Gladiators To Stay Away

By Ayodele Oni

Political crisis rocking Ondo State for over three months seems to have abated with parties in the dispute pledging to lay down arms and embrace the peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu.

The Ondo State House of Assembly has declared its support for the peace deal agreed with President Bola Tinubu by political stakeholders over the political logjam in the state.

Reading resolutions agreed with the President at Abuja meeting to his colleagues at a Plenary sitting on Tuesday, the Speaker,  Olamide Oladiji, said Lucky Aiyedatiwa remains the deputy governor not Acting Governor.

He commended the President and Afenifere Leader, PA Rueben Fasoranti for their interventions.

Addressing the plenary, the speaker also confirmed that impeachment proceeding against Aiyedatiwa had been dropped, while the state executive council remains undissolved

“Dear Colleagues, Please permit me to formally welcome you to this Hallowed

Chamber following the recent harrowing and tortuous political crisis that shook the entire State to the marrow.

‘Without any iota of doubt in my mind, I strongly believe that we all acted in line with the mandate given to us as representatives of the people.

“Our actions or inactions were governed, guided and directed by the rules of law even though futile attempts were made to blackmail and throw a spanner in our wheel as a body of lawmakers. Thank God, we all acted and spoke in one voice.

“Honestly, I must confess that what we just witnessed was democracy at play. Democracy in my view is a form of participating 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 rules of law. It is a process that provides room for questions and answers when occasions demand.

“We as elected representatives of the people have only acted within the precinct of the mandate freely given to us by our constituents. We

have demonstrated courage when occasion demanded for it. We asked questions when there was course for us, so to do.

“Notwithstanding, however, the event which we all have just witnessed, provided an avenue for assessment and reassessment. It was a win-win situation, thanks to the Almighty God and timely intervention of our political leaders and elders who were resolute in ensuring that peace return to our darling Sunshine State.

‘That three enforcers including the State chairman of APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, the Speaker of the State of House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji Adesanmi, and Secretary to the State Government Princess Catharine Oladunni Odu were appointed to monitor compliance with the foregoing resolution.

“Flowing from the above, I urge everyone to sheathe the sword, bury the hatchet and think of better ways to accelerate the much needed development of our darling Sunshine State in the interest of our people.

“On our own part, I pledge, as always, on behalf of my colleagues to continue to work with the other arms of government and other stakeholders towards enhancing the delivery of democracy dividends to our people.

“Let me at this juncture warn politicians and other gladiators fanning the embers of war, in this State, because of their political interests to please thread softly as the House of Assembly will not hesitate to deploy the full weight of the law in calling them to order.”