Ondo lawmakers suspend impeachment move against deputy governor

The Ondo State House of Assembly on Tuesday acceded to halt the ongoing impeachment process against the state’s deputy governor, Lucky Ayiedatiwa.

The lawmakers reached an agreement after a closed-door meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) at the Party headquarters on Tuesday.

Aside from the ruling party’s NWC members, the Aminu Bello Masari-led 9-man Reconciliation Committee, party state chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimilehin and 18 of the 22 APC lawmakers led by Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oladeji Olamide were present at the meeting.

Recall that the deputy governor was under the threat of impeachment by the House over allegations of gross misconduct.

But briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting with the APC NWC, the Chairman of the reconciliation committee, Aminu Bello Masari said that the APC national leadership was committed to finding a lasting solution to the crisis in the state.

He added that all actions towards the impeachment of the deputy governor have been put on hold to enable his committee reach out to all stakeholders.

According to the former governor of Katsina State, “We are working hard with the House of Assembly and the National leadership of the party to find a lasting solution to the crisis bedeviling our party and the government in Ondo state

“All actions for the pros and against have been suspended for now to allow the committee to complete its work.

“The Speaker House of Assembly is here with us, he will collaborate with the leader of the party to see the final stand of the APC National Working Committee.”

On his part, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladeji Olamide said the lawmakers have agreed to cooperate with the party in finding a lasting solution to the crisis.

Hon. Olamide said, “We were invited by the National chairman and the chairman of the Reconciliation Committee. We promised to work with the national chairman and the chairman of the reconciliation committee to find a lasting solution to the political crisis in Ondo State.

“We gave a promise that on our part, we are ready to cooperate as an arm of government with the party. At the same time, whenever they want to meet us, we will be of help to the committee.

“More importantly, we will allow the committee to do their work without hitches. Apart from that, we believe this is the only political solution that will be of help to resolve the crisis in Ondo State.

Also, the APC National Chairman, Dr Umar Ganduje commended the lawmakers for respecting the leadership of the party. He said their decision to ceasefire showed that they are democrats and committed party faithful.

Ganduje who said he had received an interim report from the Masari-led committee, disclosed that the reconciliation committed was yet to meet with the embattled deputy governor and his boss, Governor Olwarotimi Akeredolu, but confirmed the ceasefire agreement reached with the lawmakers.

According to him, “Now, having suspended the impeachment process, they (lawmakers) have created a conducive environment to continue dialoguing. We believe that we will reach a political solution.

“APC, as a political party, is an institution that is indispensable to democracy. Therefore, apart from our basic function for recruitment of membership, elected officers and appointed officers, it is our responsibility to see that all the ethics of democracy are followed and crises averted in our government, both at the sub-national level and at the international level.

“It is a political crisis and we are a political institution. So there’s no way we can fold our arms and see that our children are fighting and we allow them to go like that.”