President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Rotimi Akeredolu SAN remains the governor of Ondo state thus bringing a lingering political crisis in the state to an end., .
The President’s clarification on Saturday in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,came amid speculations of the president’s endorsement of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Deputy Governor of Ondo state as acting governor.
But the president rather than doing so, ordered that “Akeredolu remains the executive governor of the state”.
President Tinubu also urged the Deputy Governor, members of the Assembly and loyalists of Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa and party members to sheate their swords ,go about their normal duties and embrace peace .
Ngelale’s statement reads,
,“In his bid to restore political stability in Ondo State, President Bola Tinubu, late on Friday, waded into the months-long crisis between factions loyal to the Executive Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
“This followed marathon negotiations between the President and the Deputy Governor, representatives of Governor 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.
“The President advised all opposing parties to bury the hatchet and embrace peace, eliciting commitments to this effect.
“This means that Governor Akeredolu remains the Chief Executive of the State, Aiyedatiwa remains Deputy Governor, and members of the State Executive Council continue their respective duties, even as the leadership of the State’s House of Assembly and the APC Chapter in Ondo State is preserved.”
Genesis of Political Crisis in the state:. The absence of Governor Akeredolu said to be recuperating in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital after treatment of unknown disease in Germany for 3 months had reportedly created a vacuum in government house and generated animosity between the supporters of the governor and his deputy, Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa,who acted while the governor was away in Germany, allegedly conducted himself inappropriately leading to commencement of impeachment proceeding by the State House of Assembly against him.
The crisis took another turn when the Peoples Democratic Party PDP reportedly encouraged by those sympathetic to Aiyedatiwa, sponsored protests to compel Akeredolu to appear in Ondo to resume work or leave the state in the hands of Aiyedatiwa.
Akeredolu, a close ally of the president was flown out of the country in June to an undisclosed hospital in Germany for treatment. He was reported to have returned in September but chose to remain in Ibadan and govern his state.
Recently,a team of progressive governors and colleagues in the opposition visited the Ondo governor in Ibadan.
