President Bola Tinubu has waded into the political crisis in the Ondo state, which is caused by Akeredolu’s prolonged absence from office following his health.
The President reportedly meet with Aiyedatiwa, members of the state House of Assembly and other key stakeholders at the Presidential Villa, according to a presidential aide.
Other stakeholders were commissioners and leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The 26 lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly have been polarised, following the lingering political crisis in the state, involving Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
It was gathered that 11 members have reportedly crossed over to the side of the embattled deputy governor, and are now pushing that he be declared the acting governor.
According to a source “the state House of Assembly members have been divided. Eleven have crossed over to the side of Aiyedatiwa. They’ve been wooed by some forces in Abuja.
“They’ve planned a sitting with the intention to declare Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor. But the president’s invitation stopped the plan”
Last month, the state assembly served the deputy governor with an impeachment notice following alleged gross misconduct.
He subsequently challenged his impeachment in court.
Also, Akeredolu’s continued absence in the state after his return from medical vacation abroad has further heightened the tension in the state.
Aiyedatiwa’s suppoerters threatened to protest last week if the governor failed to resume, and in the alternative, Aiyedatiwa be declared the acting governor.
Notable personalities, including the Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group Afenifere, and traditional rulers, have appealed to the President to intervene in the political logjam.
The leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti had written a letter to the president during the week to urgently intervene to avoid a constitutional crisis.
According to the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu chaired a protracted meeting at the State House, Abuja, trying to resolve the political crisis that is threatening to grind the state to a halt.
The meeting, according to Onanuga (on his X handle), began around 5p.m. after the President had held several other meetings. And at about 10p.m. when State House staffers had thought that he should have retired home, Tinubu was reported to have started another round of talks with the Ondo stakeholders
