A socio-political group, Ondo State Redemption Initiative (OSRI), on Sunday, said that despite the efforts of President Bola Tinubu to restore peace in Ondo state, some individuals have embarked on moves to frustrate the peaceful truce brokered by the President.
The group, which specifically expressed displeasure over the moves by some individuals sympathetic to the state deputy governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, declared a total resistance to the peaceful solution proffered by the president.
According to the group, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Secretary, and Publicity Secretary, Pastor Adebayo Ogunsanmi, Jide Oriola, and Sunday Ayeni, respectively, alleged that some persons claiming to be supporting the deputy governor have been working underneath to thwart the peaceful resolution.
The group alleged that supporters of Aiyedatiwa have secured the services of some prominent lawyers to push for the enforcement of the doctrine of necessity to declare Akeredolu incapacitated.
They said the latest move by these individuals claiming to be working for Aiyedatiwa is to ensure that the Deputy governor is declared as the Acting Governor.
The statement read, “We are very aware that it was true that Aiyedatiwa was asked to sign an undated letter of resignation in the Abuja resolution in the presence of the president.
“But to our surprise, the deputy governor attended and chaired the state Executive Council meeting on Thursday and told the cabinet a different story.”
The group stated that it learned the deputy governor claimed that Governor Akeredolu didn’t carry him along in governance to prevent him from helping his followers.
It also claimed the deputy governor was also collecting millions of naira as an allowance monthly besides a fleet of SUVs, including a bulletproof model he uses.
Speaking on the allegations leveled against the deputy governor, the group suggested that an investigation should have been conducted to ascertain the veracity of the allegations.
The group also stated that some supporters of the deputy governor are still making efforts to polarize the state House of Assembly for his political gain.
The statement reads in parts: “We want to once again restate that peace must reign in Ondo State. We repeat, it is time for peace to reign.
“We want to urge the deputy governor to respect the terms of the peace brokered by the presidency.”
However, the Ondo State League of Young Professionals, while reacting to the allegation, maintained that the Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa, has maintained decorum since the Abuja meeting.
In his reaction, the group spokesperson, Engr. Olaleye Akinola, described the allegation as not only false but unfounded, saying, ‘In fact, up till now, the Deputy Governor is the only party that has not been making any public statements on the outcome of the meeting, unlike others who were part of the meeting.”
He stated in his statement that “The Speaker made false claims on the floor of the House over the matter and had to issue two different clarifications later to deny what he said on record.
“The Commissioner for Information also went on national television to repeat the claims which had been denied by the Speaker.
“In all of these, the Deputy Governor has maintained dignified silence. It is curious, therefore, for those heating up the polity with unguarded statements to be accusing the silent party as the one trying to scuttle the peace accord.”
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