The embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Thursday, apologised to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, over the political crisis and differences between him and the governor which happened during and after Akeredolu’s medical vacation in Germany.
Ayedatiwa who tendered the apology during a press conference in his office attributed the difference, misunderstandings, misconceptions, assumptions, and insinuations to political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election in the state.
Ayedatiwa said the apology became necessary following the negative news, embarrassment and discomfort that the governor has faced due to the barrage of negative news in the state as a result of the events of the last few months, saying Akeredolu deserves the apology as the leader and head of the government in the state.
Aiyedatiwa however, distanced himself from groups and individuals holding protests or calling on the Governor to resign, stressing that he has never commissioned any individual or group to engage in such campaigns against his principal.
The embattled deputy governor, who pledged his loyalty to Akeredolu and commitment to the development of the state, said there was the need to calm all nerves in order to restore peace and tranquility to the Sunshine State.
He said: “I am deeply saddened by the embarrassment and discomfort that Mr. Governor has faced due to the barrage of negative news in the State as a result of the events of the last few months. I tender my sincere apology to Mr. Governor on this as our leader in the state.
“Our beloved state has witnessed a series of events triggered by the health challenges faced by Mr. Governor which gave rise to a lot of assumptions, falsehoods, insinuations, misunderstandings, misconceptions, and exploitation by political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election in the state.
“We have continued to read in the media, all sorts of lies fabricated to create crisis just for the purpose of election. The recent impeachment attempt by the House of Assembly and the ensuing reactions have further created division and chaos, with my loyalty to Mr. Governor being questioned.
“It is, therefore, imperative for me to put on record that there has never been any issue between Mr. Governor and myself and I have never undermined him. Political actors have only taken advantage of his absence to create a non-existent crisis for their own selfish interests”
He stated further that “I am profoundly grateful to Mr. Governor for his intervention and role in persuading the distinguished members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered by our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the face of the impeachment move.
“It is in reference to all of the above that I tender my unreserved apologies to Mr. Governor for the embarrassment and discomfort that the political chaos of these past months has caused him and the good people of Ondo State.
“I remain fully committed to the principles of good governance that Mr. Governor has established, and I pledge my unwavering loyalty to him and I will continue to submit myself under his able, courageous and selfless leadership.
“I completely distance myself from any group or individuals holding protests or calling on the Governor to resign. I have never commissioned any individual or group to engage in such protest or campaign”
He however, commended the national leadership for the intervention in resolving the differences between him and his principal and said “I wish to thank the national leadership of our great party, APC, for the intervention on the impeachment move against me while I also pledge my commitment to the reconciliation efforts aimed at restoring peace in the state.
“I have a lot of respect for the Speaker, members of the House of Assembly and members of the State Executive Council, and I do not hold any grudge. We must all work together for the smooth running of government.
“I want to appeal to all political actors in the State to put an end to this needless crisis and allow peace so that we can all concentrate on the development of our dear state.
But the Senior Special Adviser to Akeredolu on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale, said the governor may not be averse to the apology from his deputy but said there is need to make some clarification over some of the statement credited to Ayedatiwa
Odebowale maintained that Akeredolu had at no time meddle in the affairs of the House of Assembly of Ondo State to discontinue with the Ayedatiwa impeachment process, saying Akeredolu never persuaded the members of Ondo State House of Assembly to embrace the political solution offered by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the face of an impeachment move against Aiyedatiwa.
Odebowale said “the governor, a Senior Advocate of over two decades, possesses a deep understanding of constitutional democracy. Any snide suggestion of meddlesomeness in the business of the second arm of government by the Governor is repudiated with vehemence. Mr Governor cannot descend too low.
“It is interesting to read that the Deputy Governor also distanced himself from all groups and platforms notorious for maligning the Governor, members of his family and all those perceived as his close allies and supporters, in recent times.
“More instructive is the unfortunate reference made to “a series of events triggered by the health challenges faced by Mr Governor, which gave rise to misunderstandings, misconceptions, assumptions, and insinuations, and exploited by political contenders preparing for the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election.”
The SSA said “The good people of Ondo State are too discerning to be hoodwinked with dissembling equivocation. Keen observers of events, as they have been unfolding in the State, cannot miss the import of the malicious intents, insensitive posturing and diabolical projections of the last six months in the Government of the sunshine state.
“The major sponsors of these acts of subterfuge should be ashamed of themselves. The very suggestion that these brazen and shameless acts of moral turpitude happened without the knowledge of the projected, most prominent beneficiary and active enabler of this disgrace, should make meaning to those who towed this path of infamy.
“The best respect that all elected and appointed officials of the Government can display to the people should find expression in the unconditional reverence for the institution which represents them.
“The Deputy Governor referred to the allegations of malfeasance levelled against him by the House of Assembly as all sorts of lies against my person in the media.
“It is only decent that we advise him to take this defence to the same House of Assembly which came up with 14 allegations of gross misconduct against him.”
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