Tinubu invites major players over move to sack Akeredolu, install Ayedatiwa

A new development is brewing in Ondo state following the invitation of President Bola Tinubu to major players involved in plans to install Governor Akeredolu’s embattled deputy, Ayedatiwa. 

The Speaker of the House Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, revealed that the president has invited all the principal actors and members of the House of Assembly to a meeting in Abuja, slated for 2 pm today.

According to Oladiji, the meeting with President Tinubu said the meeting outcome would determine the next line of action.

Oladiji also confirmed earlier that the scheduled plenary on Friday morning was to declare Aiyedatiwa as acting governor but not to declare Akeredolu incapacitated.

The president’s intervention follows the upset that the continued absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from the state has caused. 

A source within the House of Assembly who confided in our correspondent said members of the Assembly had been divided over the moves to declare Ayedatiwa as the Acting governor, with 11 of the 26 lawmakers supporting the moves to install Ayedatiwa.

The sources disclosed that the 11 lawmakers had been reached out to by some forces who are bent on easing Akeredolu out of office, saying these forces have been operating from outside Ondo state.

He, however, said the lawmakers’ meeting scheduled for today (Friday) had been put on hold by the 11 lawmakers because of the meeting with President Tinubu.

A visit to the Assembly complex indicated calm at the offices, while workers moved around without any hindrances and with no heavy security presence.

It will be recalled that prominent elders and traditional rulers had earlier in the week appealed to President Tinubu to intervene in the political crisis to avert looming anarchy.

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