Ondo crisis: We’ll maintain status quo, factions say

Opposing factions in the political crisis between Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have agreed to embrace peace and maintain the status quo after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Friday.

A statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Saturday in Abuja stated that the President advised all parties in the political crisis to bury the hatchet and embrace peace.

Factions at the meeting include the deputy governor, representatives of Akeredolu, federal and state lawmakers of Ondo, officials of the state’s chapter of the All Progressives’ Congress, and other stakeholders in the state at the State House, Abuja.

Ngelale said the parties agreed that Gov. Akeredolu remains Chief Executive of the State, Aiyedatiwa remains Deputy Governor, members of the State Executive Council continue their respective duties, and the leadership of the State’s House of Assembly and the APC Chapter in Ondo State is preserved.

Aiyedatiwa, who declared his decision to maintain the status quo and unite all the factions, said: “I want to say that I pledge to all of you that I embrace every one of you.

“I put behind me all that has happened before now.

“I’ve let go and also let God take charge, just as the President has advised us.

“And I want to say that with no offence, no guile in my mind whatsoever. All that has happened is politics. Impeachment is part of politics. If you survive it, it is also politics. It has come. I’ve survived it, and everything else is in the past. ⁣

“It is one big family, and our father has intervened to bring all the children together to remain under the same family.

“With the position that I occupy, I will carry every one of you along in every decision that needs to be taken, and in everything that we do, we will work together.

“The executive and the legislature will work together to ensure that governance is on the right track.”

He pleaded with all members of the State Executive Council to rally around the governor and himself to “bring the dividend of democracy” to the people of Ondo State. ⁣

“All the Executive Council members, I want to plead with all of you to cooperate with me, with the Governor, so that we can bring the dividend of democracy to our people.

“We should respect one another regarding the offices we occupy and our age differences. So, it’s going to be mutual respect. ⁣

“And I want to assure the party structure that we will work together because the party is supreme. We will always give you your due respect,” he said. ⁣

Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, who read the details of the resolution, said, “Our resolution is that we shall embrace peace.

“Secondly, there would be no more dissolution of the cabinet, and the Deputy Governor would maintain the status quo as far as the House of Assembly leadership is concerned.

“We will maintain the status quo as far as the party leadership in the state is concerned and maintain the status quo as far as the leadership of the State House of Assembly is concerned. Thank you, Mr President.” ⁣

On her part, the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, stated, “Our Father, the President, has taken the trouble to settle our rancour in Ondo State.

“We owe you all our gratitude, sir. We will not disappoint you. We have taken every word you said. And we are going home as one united family under the party, APC.” ⁣

In his remarks, the Ondo State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, expressed delight at the outcome of the deliberations, saying that the party will remain a watchdog to ensure that the new commitments are adhered to. ⁣

“Today is my happiest moment. And I know sanity has come to Ondo State. So, on behalf of the teeming supporters of our party in the state, we appreciate our leader, Mr. President,” Adetimehin said.