Call Aiyedatiwa to order, federal lawmakers beg Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to warn state governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa over his alleged disrespect for his late principal by the All Progressives Congress members in the House of Representatives, who are devoted to the late Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu.

After Akeredolu passed away on December 27, 2023, Aiyedatiwa became the state’s governor.

Six legislators—Adesida Abiodun (Akure North/South), Timehin Adelegbe (Owo/Ose), Festus Ayodele (Ileoluji- Okeigbo/Odigbo), Ojogo Kimikanboh (Ilaje/Ese-Odo), Odimayo John (Okitipupa/Irele), and Adegboyega Adefarati (Akoko South West/South East)—signed an open letter to President Tinubu, warning of dire consequences for the APC should Governor Aiyedatiwa do not reverse his course.

The caucus leader, Adesida, spoke to reporters in Abuja on Friday. She urged Tinubu to become involved in the situation and protect the reputation of the ruling party, especially because the governorship election is scheduled for September.

He made accusations against Aiyedatiwa, claiming that he made official actions that revealed his lack of regard for the late Akeredolu’s legacies.

He further claimed that the deputy governor had caused the former governor a great deal of suffering and that the governor had socialized with Akeredolu’s known political rivals.

Adesida declared, “The late Governor’s well-known political rival is the deputy governor that Mr. Aiyedatiwa appointed. They were from Owo, but during the late Governor’s life, they were never on the same page. During the late Akeredolu’s 2020 reelection campaign, to which you were devoted, Olajide Adelami caused him a great lot of trouble.

Additionally, it is well known throughout the state that Mr. Aiyedatiwa has allied himself with every bitter and well-established political adversary of the late Akeredolu. For instance, a number of devoted party members, especially in Owo, have strongly objected to the choice of Barrister Kola Olawoye, a suspended APC member and former state attorney general, as Aiyedatiwa’s campaign coordinator there.

The announcement of N35,000 being paid as a palliative allowance for civil servants and the settlement of salary arrears from January 2017, which were previously approved by the late Akeredolu, were incorrectly presented as early actions taken by Governor Aiyedatiwa, according to Adeshida, the House Committee Chair of the Federal Road Safety Commission.

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“Mr. President, the Governor has deeply stoked division and caused a significant divide among party members.” At the moment, Ade Adetimehin, the party’s state chairman, is being ignored and sidelined. Governor Aiyedatiwa has taken to using his proxies to warn the Chairman and put pressure on him to step down, which has made the situation worse. It’s a precarious position, sir.

The animosity that Governor Aiyedatiwa sowed is the cause of the developing rift among our party. The opposition members who sided with Mr. Aiyedatiwa in the struggle against the late Akeredolu, insisting that he give up power to Aiyedatiwa when he was ill, have now taken important positions in the government and party, while the former supporters of Akeredolu have been marginalized.

The main issue is obvious: we need to keep Ondo State out of the hands of the opposition as a result of internal strife. It is now more important than ever for the party to have strong, cohesive leadership as it navigates through this turbulent time.

“Ayedatiwa’s decision to dissolve the Ondo State Executive Council has sparked controversy and is being viewed as ill-advised, reckless, and foolish in a number of ways. The decision’s apparent haste is one of the primary criticisms. Many questioned the Governor’s decision to act so harshly so soon after Akeredolu’s final burial.

“We sincerely hope that the APC’s influence in the Sunshine State, Ondo, won’t decline and that the state would be spared from more unrest.

“We, the good people of Ondo State, representing you in the National Assembly, pray that divine wisdom will guide your Presidency, resulting in remarkable development, peace, prosperity, and renewed hope for all Nigerians,” the letter continued.