Ondo Political Firestorm: Lawmakers Accuse Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa Amid Deepening Assembly Impeachment Rift
The Ondo State House of Assembly is facing a severe leadership crisis, with 21 of 26 lawmakers moving to impeach Speaker Olamide Oladiji over alleged financial mismanagement. Assembly spokesperson Olatunji Fabiyi claims Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is attempting to influence lawmakers to drop the impeachment, which the legislature insists is an internal affair. The crisis deepens amidst denials from the Speaker and calls for his resignation to restore stability.
The Ondo State House of Assembly is embroiled in a deepening leadership crisis, marked by efforts to impeach Speaker Olamide Oladiji and alleged interference from Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Olatunji Fabiyi, Chairman of the House Committee on Information and spokesperson for the Assembly, revealed on Monday that 21 of the 26 lawmakers have formally endorsed the Speaker’s removal, asserting that this collective resolution is irreversible.
Fabiyi's statements come amidst reports that Speaker Oladiji had allegedly contemplated resigning due to accusations of mismanaging N44 million, released by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC). While some related reports cited a figure of N50 million diversion, the Speaker has vehemently denied all allegations. Furthermore, a vote of no confidence was previously passed by 13 Ondo lawmakers against the Speaker for allegedly endorsing Governor Aiyedatiwa's gubernatorial bid, indicating long-standing internal rifts.
A significant point of contention has emerged regarding Governor Aiyedatiwa's alleged attempts to influence the legislative process. Fabiyi accused the Governor of actively trying to persuade lawmakers to abandon the impeachment proceedings. He emphasized that the impeachment is an internal affair of the legislature and questioned the Governor's interest, suggesting a 'hidden agenda' if the executive continues to protect the Speaker. "Unless the government is telling us that they have something in common," Fabiyi stated, expressing concern over the executive arm's alleged attempts to interfere.
The lawmakers have reportedly conveyed to the Governor that their grievances are directed solely at the Assembly’s leadership and not at his administration. "We simply don’t want our leadership again. There is no reason why somebody should continue to perpetrate himself over us when we don’t want him anymore," Fabiyi reiterated, urging the Governor to respect the constitutional powers of the House in matters of leadership. He insisted that allowing the impeachment process to proceed would restore stability to the Assembly, advocating for the Speaker to step aside.
Regarding the timeline of the Governor's intervention, Fabiyi disclosed that while lawmakers initially believed the Governor requested a seven-day window to mediate the crisis, it later became clear that he had sought a 14-day period, which is set to conclude by "next Sunday." This confusion further underscores the complex dynamics and differing perspectives within the state's political landscape.