Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the case instituted against an Ondo state lawyer, Wale Odusola, who was dragged before a magistrate Court in the state.
The governor who dissociated himself from the petition seeking the prosecution of the lawyer over alleged cyberbullying, said he did not authorise any move to suppress criticism of his administration.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, who clarified that Aiyedatiwa had no role in the petition filed against Odusola nor did he authorise the arrest of the lawyer.
The statement read: “The attention of the Governor of Ondo State has been drawn to the petition which attempts to bring Barrister Wale Omolegbon’s Facebook criticism to serious scrutiny and prosecution for cyberbullying by the police authority.
“It is necessary to state unequivocally that Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has no hand in it. The Governor did not commission anyone to petition the police against any citizen who criticises him or his administration.
“The decision to tolerate the pains of serving the people has been entered into since the day the Governor chose to be a servant-leader.
“In retrospect, was there anything anyone didn’t say about the Governor before this time? Did he ever frown at even the most insipid narrative? He was everything to many people and he never begrudged anyone”
Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed that he would not engage in any action to suppress opposition and directed the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the case and facilitate the withdrawal of the charges against Omolegbon.
“It is instructive to state that the Governor has expressly declined any assistance in fighting for him or on his behalf. Governor Aiyedatiwa is a democrat who understands the importance of discordant views in a democracy. He has not and will not commission anyone to fight his battles for him.
“Mr Governor has, therefore, asked the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to take over the case instituted against Barrister Omolegbon and work towards dropping the charges,” the statement said.
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