Rotimi Akeredolu and Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has averagely resolved the five-month-long political crisis rocking the state. Recall that there has been political restiveness between the camp of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa over the administration of the state and the ill health of the state governor.
Governor Akeredolu who returned from Germany in September after a prolonged medical leave, refused to stay in Ondo state as he resides in Ibadan, Oyo State capital in option to ensure quick recuperation. This has generated a political rift between the camp of the Governor and his deputy as members of the state Executive cabinet appointed by Governor Akeredolu, mostly, disagree with the members of the State House of Assembly.
The disagreement between the cabinet members and the members of the State House of Assembly has grossly contributed to the fueling of the calls for the removal of Governor Akeredolu for incompetence and declaration of the Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa as the substantive governor of the state.
Wading in to resolve the political crisis, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu summoned stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at both the National and Ondo State levels to a meeting which included members of the State Executive cabinet and State House of Assembly.
Present at the meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the Aso Rock were the Defunct National Chairman of APC, Chief Adebisi Akande; National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje; Ondo State Chairman of APC, Ade Adetimehin; members of the National Assembly from Ondo State; Secretary to Ondo State Government, Oladuni Odu; Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinrinwa; and the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji.
Insight of the Political crisis
Betty Akeredolu, the Wife of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the son of Governor, Babajide Akeredolu have been in the spotlight of the news coming from Ondo State since the absence of the Governor from State. They were alleged to be acting as De Facto Governor and shielding government activities from the perspectives of the Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa who would later be influenced by political opponents to Governor Akeredolu, both within APC and from the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to raise motion against the maltreatment from the family of the Governor.
Heeding to the pieces of advice, deputy governor Aiyedatiwa was fingered in a nationwide media publication allegedly sponsored by his media aides which claimed that Governor Akeredolu had been incapacitated and living the last gasp of his lifespan. At a point, the media publication went worse to the extent of announcing the [false] demise of Governor Akeredolu.
It was the [speculated] death news of Governor Akeredolu that caused the Governor to return from Germany where he was going through medical remediation for his ill health, and to encourage his medical fitness, Governor Akeredolu decided to reside in Ibadan where he would not be exposed to unnecessary meetings by allies and political opponents.
As of Friday, November 24th, 2023 when President Tinubu met with the parties in the political crisis, Aiyedatiwa has gotten the support of some powerful politicians from Abuja who are suspiciously political opponents to Akeredolu’s school of politics.
With the Abuja support, Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa won the hearts of about 11 members of the 26-member Ondo State House of Assembly, including the Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji.
Before President Tinubu summoned the meeting, the 11 members supporting deputy governor Aiyedatiwa planned to convene a session of the House on Friday where Governor Akeredolu would be declared incapacitated and Aiyedatiwa would be declared the Executive Governor of the State.
Resolution by President Tinubu
At the stakeholders meeting, the parties present at the meeting were said to have agreed to the declaration of Aiyedatiwa as Acting Governor of the State while Akeredolu remains the Executive Governor of the state. However, the Wife and son of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu were not allowed into the room where the meeting took place. Although the refusal to allow the immediate family of the Governor to the meeting respects courtesy it may mar the outcome of the meeting as there is a possibility the state will be plunged into severe political mesh after power is transferred to Aiyedatiwa on Monday as the meeting resolved in the absence of the immediate family of Akeredolu.
It is important to remember that the family of the governor currently has the support of the simple majority of the State House of Assembly, and a possible attempt by Aiyedatiwa to reshuffle the Executive Cabinet in the state may fuel the crisis further.
Category: World-News
Tag: Ondo news Akeredolu impeach aiyedatiwa
Written by Omooba Alekuwodo (omoobaalekuwodo)
Published 11/25/2023 1:40:58 PM