There are strong indications that more members of the Ondo State House of Assembly are set to pitch their tent with the State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Starnews NG reports.
One of the Lawmakers who spoke in a telephone interview, anonymously confirmed to Starnews NG that more members of the parliament are set to endorse Aiyedatiwa for Governor despite the impeachment rumour against the Assembly Speaker.
“I can confirm that all is politics, some of my colleagues are ready to work for Aiyedatiwa, so don’t mind information flying around about the speaker’s impeachment”.
Some of my colleagues including my humble self have resolved to work for him (Aiyedatiwa). I can assure you that the table has turned in his favour in the state assembly and you will soon see more lawmakers endorsing him”, the lawmaker clandestinely told our correspondent.
Meanwhile, trouble started yesterday when 13 out of the 26 Lawmakers dissociated from the endorsement of the state Governor by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji.
The Assembly, led by Oladiji, had before Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s death, attempted to impeach Governor Aiyedatiwa over alleged gross misconduct while in office as the state ex-deputy governor. During this period, the state was in turmoil due to different antics played by powerful governorship aspirants who were oiling the crisis in their quest to succeed the late Rotimi Akeredolu.
The political turmoil later attracted presidential intervention and consequently, Oladiji’s led Assembly barefacedly played down on the impeachment process and parties involved in the brouhaha sheathed their swords.
After Aiyedatiwa was sworn-in, the Governor was said to have put all that happened during the impeachment saga behind him; an action that suggestively made Oladiji to show love for Aiyedatiwa.
But yesterday, the thirteen members of the Ondo State House of Assembly issued a vote of no confidence against Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji.
They criticized his endorsement of the State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as preferred governorship aspirant ahead of the APC primary slated to hold by April 24, 2024.
They alleged that the speaker did not adhere to due process and relevant state laws
Starnews NG can report that the disgruntled Lawmakers embarked on the impeachment odyssey due to the endorsement of Aiyedatiwa.
In a swift reaction to the speaker’s endorsement of Governor Aiyedatiwa, the 13 lawmakers in a statement said, “The Ondo State House of Assembly wishes to categorically state that it has not passed any resolution to endorse the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as purportedly announced by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji.
“The House of Assembly operates on democratic principles, and would formally take a collective decision, follow due process and the relevant laws governing the State where it wishes to take any decision regarding the endorsement of a gubernatorial candidate
“As Honourable members of the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly, we were shocked and disappointed to hear the public declaration made by the Honourable Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Olamide Oladiji, to the extent that the Ondo State House of Assembly has agreed to support the governorship ambition of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“The said declaration by Mr. Speaker is untrue, misleading, un-parliamentary, and, to say the least, ridiculous.
“We therefore wish to inform the good people of Ondo State at home and in the diaspora that:
“At no point did the Ondo State House of Assembly deliberate the governorship ambition of any of the numerous aspirants that have indicated their interests to contest the State’s 2024 Governorship Election, let alone agree to support any particular aspirant.
To corroborate the words of the anonymous Lawmaker, the Ondo State House of Assembly Spokesperson, Chief Olatunji Oshati has said that the purported passing of vote of no confidence on the Speaker ,Chief Olamide Oladiji by some Lawmakers has not been formally brought to the knowledge of the whole house.
While speaking in an interview with some Journalists, the Chairman house committee on information noted that he only read it on social media, noting that he also read on social media where some of the members listed to have passed the vote of no confidence on the Speaker were debunking it.
“We need to investigate to know what is actually happening since the purported letter was not signed by any of the petitioners. Promising that we we have a proper mechanism to iron out issues if we have grievances of this nature.
“According to the allegation,l perceived politics, and it should not go to the level of passing vote of no confidence.
“The allegation was about Mr Speaker talking on behalf of the whole house, until I see the video because,l want to believe that the Speaker said eighteen Members who are in APC caucus are for Aiyedatiwa and in the process of probably talking as well mentioned that all members of the house are in support of Aiyedatiwa’s government.
“If not ,could he be talking about PDP house members supporting Aiyedatiwa in APC primary, it’s not possible and no person can say such thing when actually it’s practically impossible”.
He informed that when the house reconvene at the parliamentary meeting,the issues will be addressed.”It is a platform where all members express themselves on any issue and have a way of resolving it.
“That is why I said that if not of politics, any problem of this nature could have been resolved within the house. Look at the impeachment saga then, despite how some members dissociate themselves, we still have a good relationship among ourselves and we didn’t allow it to divide us, and I believe that this one will not divide us as well. We have a way of managing it”, he assured.
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