The All Progressives Congress lawmakers within the Home of Representatives, loyal to the late Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, have referred to as on President Tinubu to warn Governor Fortunate Aiyedatiwa over alleged disrespect for his or her late director.
On Saturday, PUNCH reported that Aiyedatiwa's rise as Governor of Ondo State adopted the demise of Akeredolu on December 27, 2023.
In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu and signed by six lawmakers together with 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) Federal Constituencies warned lawmakers of dire penalties for the APC if Aiyedatiwa doesn’t retrace his steps.
Talking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, the chief of the caucus, Adesida, referred to as on President Tinubu to look into the matter and save face of the ruling occasion, particularly with the November governorship election.
He accused Governor Aiyedatiwa of creating official choices that dismissed him as a person with little or no respect for the legacy left by the late Akeredolu.
Adesida mentioned: “The deputy governor appointed by Mr. Aiyedatiwa is a identified political opponent of the late governor. Regardless of being from Owo, they by no means got here head to head throughout the late governor's lifetime. Olajide Adelami brought about plenty of hassle for the late Akeredolu throughout his 2020 re-election, which you dedicated to.
“Moreover, it has turn into frequent information within the state that Mr. Aiyedatiwa has aligned himself with each disgruntled and entrenched political enemy of the late Akeredolu. For instance, the appointment of lawyer Kola Olawoye, a suspended APC member and former Legal professional Common of the state, as Aiyedatiwa’s marketing campaign coordinator in Owo has been broadly condemned by occasion loyalists, particularly in Owo.
“Mr President, the governor has created a major rift and brought about deep discord amongst occasion members. At present, the occasion's state chairman, Ade Adetimehin, is being marginalized and sidelined. To make issues worse, Governor Aiyedatiwa has resorted to sending his proxies to warn the Speaker and stress him to resign. It's a foul state of affairs, sir.
The lawmakers additional urged Tinubu to “forestall Ondo State from falling into the palms of the opposition because of inner battle,” including that there’s “an pressing want for decisive and unifying management that’s turning into extra evident than ever. ”
Nonetheless, the lawmaker representing Ondo East/Ondo West Federal Constituency, Mr. Abiola Makinde, in an announcement castigated his colleagues, describing their concern and loyalty to the late Akeredolu as faux.
He mentioned: “With all due respect to my colleagues, I imagine this letter has uncovered those that are planning to create a disaster within the occasion as a substitute of averting it. For lawmakers who’re leaders of their constituencies to instantly get up to guard the lifeless former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, whom they deserted whereas he was alive, is self-defeating.
“For the reason that dying of the previous governor, this caucus has not seen match to pay a condolence go to to his household, but they declare that they love him extra in dying now than when he was alive. What was the function of the caucus throughout the inglorious days of thick politics that just about introduced down our state final 12 months? What number of letters have we written to the president to avoid wasting the state from those that intentionally blocked it?”
When contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, declined to touch upon the matter.
The Deputy Governor Adelami has, nevertheless, refuted claims that he was an enemy of the late Governor Akeredolu.
In an announcement from the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Mr. John Paul Akinduro, Adelami described the accusers’ allegation as malicious and unfaithful.
The assertion learn partially: “Chief Adelami was by no means an enemy of the late governor nor of some other political participant in Ondo State or elsewhere. The deputy governor is an honest politician and philanthropist with a verifiable observe file.
“It’s instructive to notice that Chief Adelami has been a powerful member of the APC for hundreds of years and a staunch supporter and trusted ally of the late Governor Akeredolu.
“Price mentioning is the truth that the Deputy Governor supplied ethical, political and monetary help to the late Governor throughout the election campaigns resulting in his first and second phrases in workplace and subsequently prolonged the identical help all through his tenure as Governor. of Ondo State.”
