There is discord in the Ondo State House of Assembly as 11 out of the 26 legislators have dissociated themselves from a letter purportedly written by the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, to the state Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In a letter signed by the Speaker on Monday, the House said the impeachment process resumed after the expiration of the ex parte order of the Federal High Court.
The letter was titled, ‘Request to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, following the expiration of the interim injunction of the Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023 by operation of the law.’
The letter read in part, “The Ondo State House of Assembly had on 3rd October 2023 requested Your Lordship to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled by the House against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, in line with Section 188 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
“In a reply letter dated October 6, 2023, Your Lordship acknowledged and quoted Section 188 (10) of the Constitution which states that ‘No proceedings or determination of the House of Assembly or the panel or any matter relating to such proceedings or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court.’
“Your Lordship, however, opined that until the ex parte order made on September 26, 2023, by the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court restraining you from setting up the panel was either vacated or set aside, your hands would continue to be tied.
“However, from the facts and legal advice at the disposal of the House, the said order has now elapsed and/or become extinguished by the operation of the law, in view of the clear provisions of Order 26 Rule 10 (2) & (3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.
“Your Lordship would agree that the said order has elapsed by the operation of the law, and no longer constitutes an encumbrance for Your Lordship to discharge the sacred constitutional obligation placed on your office by virtue of Section 188 (5) of the Constitution to set up the seven-man panel.
“Consequently, the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly hereby calls on Your Lordship to kindly constitute the panel without any further delay.”
However, in a new twist on Thursday, 11 lawmakers dissociated themselves from the Speaker’s letter.
The letter was signed by: Hon. Japheth Oluwatoyin; Hon. Jide Oguntodu; Hon. Tiamiyu Fatai Atere; Hon. Gbegudu Ololade; Hon Allen Oluwatoyin; Hon. (Barr) Abitogun Stephen; Hon. (Barr) Tope Komolafe; Hon. (Barr) Afe Felix; Hon. Oladapo Biola; Hon. (Princess) Fayemi Olawumi and Hon. (Ch) Oshati Olatunji.
The letter read, “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 of Ondo State House of 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 the Chief Judge to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, came to us on social media as a rude shock, as 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 a 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;
“a) 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 the Court will certainly be contemptuous.
“b) 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 the press immediately after the meeting. It will be untidy in our view to get back to Ondo State and act otherwise.
“c) 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.
“d) 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 an 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 par 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. Following the Expiration of the Interim Injunction of the Federal High Court in Suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, by Operation of Law, signed by Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi and addressed to the Chief Judge of Ondo State.
“Thank you.”
Deputy Governor apologises to Akeredolu
The embattled deputy governor of Ondo State, has apologised to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the ‘embarrassment and discomfort that the recent political upheaval in the state has caused him.’
Aiyedatiwa, who tendered the apology on Thursday in Akure while addressing newsmen in his office, said; “I thank Mr Governor for allowing the State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered by the national body of our great party, APC and that shows that Mr. Governor is a democrat that allows for discussion.”
The deputy governor said, “Let me begin by thanking my principal, Mr. Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON, who provided me with this platform to serve as the deputy governor of Ondo State. I must say it has been a worthwhile experience for me working with him for the benefit of the good people of our dear state.
“However, I am deeply saddened by the embarrassment and discomfort that Mr. Governor has faced due to the barrage of negative news in the state as a result of the events of the last few months. I tender my sincere apology to Mr. Governor on this as our leader in the state.
“Our beloved state has witnessed a series of events triggered by the health challenges faced by Mr. Governor which gave rise to a lot of assumptions, falsehoods, insinuations, misunderstandings, misconceptions, and exploitation by political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election in the state.
“We have continued to read in the media, all sorts of lies fabricated to create a crisis just for the purpose of election. The recent impeachment attempts by the House of Assembly and the ensuing reactions have further created division and chaos, with my loyalty to Mr. Governor being questioned.”
The deputy governor said it was imperative for him to put on record that there has never been any issue between himself and Governor Akeredolu, adding that “I have never undermined him.”
He said political actors have only taken advantage of the governor’s absence to create a non-existent crisis for their own selfish interests.
“Let me say it here that I am profoundly grateful to Mr. Governor for his intervention and role in persuading the distinguished members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered by our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the face of the impeachment move.
“It is in reference to all of the above that I tender my unreserved apologies to Mr. Governor for the embarrassment and discomfort that the political chaos of these past months has caused him and the good people of Ondo State.
“I remain fully committed to the principles of good governance that Mr. Governor has established, and I pledge my unwavering loyalty to him and I will continue to submit myself under his able, courageous and selfless leadership.
“I completely distance myself from any group or individuals holding protests or calling on the Governor to resign. I have never commissioned any individual or group to engage in such a protest or campaign.
“I wish to thank the national leadership of our great party, APC, for the intervention on the impeachment move against me while I also pledge my commitment to the reconciliation efforts aimed at restoring peace in the state.
“I have a lot of respect for the speaker, members of the House of Assembly and members of the state executive council, and I do not hold any grudge. We must all work together for the smooth running of the government.
“I want to appeal to all political actors in the state to put an end to this needless crisis and allow peace so that we can all concentrate on the development of our dear state.
“The lesson that I learnt was that as a human being, you will continue to learn every day, I have learnt about human dynamics, people can take you out of context, misconception and all of that. But what matters is that you should remain stable, and be consistent, and remain loyal in respect of whatever they say the truth will always prevail at the end of the day.”
