No fewer than 12 members out of 26 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have dissociated themselves from a purported letter written to the state Chief Judge, Justice to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate gross allegations levelled against the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
In a statement on Thursday in Akure by Mr Olatunji Oshati, the Spokesman of the House of the Assembly, the purported letter was a rude shock to the 12 members.
“ As members of the 10th Assembly of Ondo State House of Assembly, we wish to inform the public and the good people of Ondo State that the letter purported to have been written by members of the 10th Assembly of Ondo State House of Assembly, signed by Rt Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, dated 23rd October, 2023, transmitted to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, requesting the Chief Judge to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, came to us on social media as a rude shock, as the said letter did not emanate from any of the sittings of members of Ondo State House of Assembly.
“We wish to state further that the decision to transmit such letter by the speaker, Rt Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, in our view,is in the least unwarranted and uncalled for, in the light of the following reasons;
“The order of interim injunction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, of 21st day of September, 2023, which has restrained the speaker and Ondo State House of Assembly, as 4th and 6th respondents respectively, is still subsisting, since it has neither be vacated nor set aside.
“For us to act in contravention of the subsisting order of the court will certainly be contemptuous,” he said.
Oshati explained that the national leaders of the All Progressive Congress, on Oct. 17, invited all the 22 members of the party in the House of Assembly , of to Abuja and pleaded for amicable and political solution to the issue of impeachment process, initiated by the assembly against the deputy governor.
According to him, without hesitation, the request was acceded to, in the interest of the party and peace of the state.
“Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, consequently addressed press immediately after the meeting.
“It will be untidy in our view to get back to Ondo State and act otherwise.
“The decision to transmit the purported letter of Ondo State House of Assembly, dated 23rd October, 2023, signed by Rt Hon Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, was taken without a formal sitting of the House and our knowledge as members of the 10th Assembly.
“It is our considered view that we should be honourable indeed by standing with our acceptance at the Abuja meeting to suspend the impeachment process and allow for amicable and political solution to the issue for the benefits of governance and peace of Ondo State,” he stated
The spokesman, however, reiterated the 12 aggrieved members’ unalloyed respect and support to Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,whom he described as a man of peace and leader per excellence, who strongly believed in peace and progress of the state.
Oshati asked the embattled deputy governor to embrace peace for the betterment of the state.
“We, equally, call on His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa, to earnestly tow the path of the agreement for amicable and political solution to the impeachment saga, as brokered by the National Working Committee of All Progressive Congress.
“In the light of the foregoing, we the undersigned members of Ondo State House of Assembly, wish to dissociate ourselves from the letter titled; Request to Constitute a Seven-man panel, to investigate the Allegation of Gross Misconduct Against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Following the Expiration of the Interim Injunction of the Federal High Court in Suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, by Operation of Law, signed by Rt Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi and addressed to the Chief Judge of Ondo State,” he stated.
PROMPT NEWS reports that the 12 members are: Mr Japheth Oluwatoyin, Mr Jide Oguntodu, Mr Tiamiyu Fatai Atere; Mr Gbegudu Ololade, Mr Allen Oluwatoyin and Mr Abitogun Stephen.
Others are: Mr Tope Komolafe, Mr Afe Felix, Mr Biola Oladapo, Mrs Fayemi Olawumi, Mr Oshati Olatunji
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