I don’t meddle in assembly matter, Akeredolu Replies Aiyedatiwa’s apology

The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has responded to the apology by his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa over the protracted sour relationship between them.

The governor asked his deputy to defend himself against allegation of malfeasance levelled against him by the state House of Assembly.

Aiyedatiwa had at a media briefing in Akure, the state capital, expressed regrets that negative reports that had trailed the crisis must have caused embarrassment to the governor in the last few months.

“I am profoundly grateful to Mr. Governor for his intervention and role in persuading the distinguished members of the Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered by our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the face of an impeachment move against me,” Aiyedatiwa said.

“Our beloved state has witnessed a series of events triggered by the health challenges faced by Mr. Governor, which gave rise to misunderstandings, misconceptions, assumptions, and insinuations, and exploited by political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election.

“The recent impeachment attempt by the House of Assembly and the ensuing reactions have further created division and chaos, with my loyalty to Mr. Governor being questioned.

“It is in reference to the above that I hereby tender my unreserved apologies to Mr. Governor and the good people of Ondo state, and I assure that, together, we will both complete this journey with honour, divine guidance and in good health by the grace of God.

Pledging his loyalty to the governor and commitment to the development of Ondo State, the deputy governor detached himself from any protest and calls for the governor to resign over his health crisis.

But in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Adebowale, Akeredolu said he does not meddle in the affairs of the state House of Assembly as insinuated during the press conference.

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The governor said he “may not be averse to embracing, cautiously, any seeming overtures impelled by genuine contriteness, making the following clarifications become pertinent”.

“The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, does not meddle in the affairs of the House of Assembly of Ondo State, as subtly suggested at the press conference. There has never been any time when the Governor “persuaded” the “distinguished members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered” by the All Progressives Congress (APC), “in the face of an impeachment move against” the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“The best respect that all elected and appointed officials of the Government can display to the people should find expression in the unconditional reverence for the institution which represents them.

“The Deputy Governor referred to the allegations of malfeasance levelled against him by the House of Assembly as ‘all sorts of lies against my person in the media’. It is only decent that we advise him to take this defence to the same House of Assembly which came up with 14 allegations of gross misconduct against him.

“This is the only course of honour at this moment.”