The resolutions of members of Ondo State House of Assembly at the plenary on Tuesday, claiming that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu didn’t ask them to install the state Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as an acting governor has been described as a farce.
A group of people under the auspices of Concerned Elites Of Ondo State alleged the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji twisted the resolutions reached at the meeting with Mr. President at Aso Rock on Friday night.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the group, Chief Adeola Fagbayibo and Dr. Olanrewaju Akeredolu respectively, the Speaker was alleged of deliberately twisting the facts of the resolutions that the conditions given the deputy governor was as a result of the deputy governor assuming the position of an acting governor.
The statement reads inter alia: “We have noticed that Mr. Speaker, for reasons known to him, deliberately twisted facts to suit a certain interest by asserting that there was no agreement to transfer power to the Deputy Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, following the prolonged absence of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.
“While reading the major conditions of status quo put forward at the meeting – which include retaining the Cabinet, Assembly leadership and Party leadership as currently constituted in the State – Mr. Speaker refused to mention that those conditions were hinged on Aiyedatiwa gaining acting governorship status.”
The group reasoned that the deputy governor doesn’t have the constitutional rights to dissolve the state cabinet, querying why Aiyedatiwa was asked not to dissolve the cabinet during the meeting.
The statement reads further that “It is common knowledge that a Deputy Governor does not have the constitutional power to dissolve the State Executive Council. That power is vested in the Governor and can only be exrcised by the Deputy Governor if he is Acting Governor.
“The question that the people of Ondo State should ask Mr. Speaker is: if directive of Mr. President is for Aiyedatiwa not to be named Acting Governor, why then was he made to issue a commitment not to dissolve the Cabinet or change the leaderships of the Assembly and Party? If he remains as Deputy Governor, does he have the power to dissolve the Cabinet?”
According to the group, the prolonged absence of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu from the state warranted the need to make his deputy assume the position of an acting governor to run the affairs of the state.
“For the sake of clarity, the President indeed maintained that Akeredolu remains Governor and Aiyedatiwa remains his deputy. However, since the absence of the Governor has been prolonged and a vacuum created, the Assembly was asked to give Aiyedatiwa the power to act as Governor pending the return of Akeredolu to office.
“The Speaker mentioned that Aiyedatiwa was asked by the President to sign an undated resignation letter but Mr. Speaker refused to mention that that commitment was predicated on the Deputy Governor becoming Acting Governor. The undated resignation letter was to serve as insurance in case he refuses to relinquish power upon the return of Akeredolu to office.
“When Mr. President ‘appointed’ the Speaker, the Party chairman and the SSG to act as monitors of the implementation of the resolutions reached, their job was to ensure that Aiyedatiwa as Acting Governor does not deviate from the resolutions. There is absolutely nothing to monitor in a Deputy Governor that has no constitutional powers.
“We therefore insist that Mr. Speaker has breached the resolutions by churning out half-truths in an attempt to delay or abort the implementation of the directive of Mr. President. The suspiciius decision to hurriedly screen and approve 66 people into LG/LCDAS interim administration within a few hours today points to that direction.
“While the Deputy Governor is not desperate to assume the status of Acting Governor and will play his part in maintaining peace and order in the State, it is imperative to let the people know those who are intent on scuttling the efforts of Mr. President and well meaning stakeholders in restoring peace to our beloved State, the statement reads further.
Blaming the lawmakers for ignoring their primary assignment, the group said: “It is unclear to the people of the state whom they claim to be representing how the lawmakers will abandon their core duty of bringing an acting governor on board now that it is clear that the governor is incapacitated.
“Coded media intelligent team earlier finds out that the state Assembly are inviting some people for interview as caretaker committee for local governments across the state. Is Mr Speaker not aware of the illegality of this move? Are they assuming that we did not know that Akeredolu didn’t sign any of such document before departing Nigeria for Germany in April on health ground. Why this connivance?
“Everyone expect the lawmakers to, as soon as they are back from Abuja, work on the doctrine of necessity as provided in the constitution without any incumbrances. The question beg for answer why the speaker and the lawmakers prefer to be playing on the emotions of Ondo citizens.
“As the news of president Tinubu intervention in the logjam brokered, the people rejoice with the hope that the people at the corridor of power within the state will burry their hatchet in honour of Mr President in the interest of the citizens but these demonstrations are contrary. Why will the speaker entertain the request of Babajide and Adetimehin at this healing moment in the state?
“The drift should face out whatever can incite or reignite crisis. The appointment of caretaker committee for local government will engender new kiosk. Taking such decision now is tantamount to disrespect for the President and all other leaders across the country that waded into the matter.
“Since Mr Speaker cannot honour the president by avoiding anything that can broker new crisis then the time for all the meaningful people of Ondo state to rise and repel the move of the speaker is now. His actions are unwholesome for the good people of the Ondo state.
“This action of Mr Speaker and his team is a Rape of Democratic governance, an obvious Slap to Mr President and the National Chairman of APC, a complete display of lack of personal Integrity.
“Let us wait to see what both President Tinubu of Nigeria and AIhaji Ganduje National Chairman of APC can do.
We wait to see how they will stomach this bracing incorrigible political disrespect.
