Thirteen members of Ondo State House of Assembly have disowned Speaker Olamide Oladiji’s claim of lawmakers’ block support for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The Speaker has thus run into trouble waters for allegedly lying that 18 lawmakers have endorsed Aiyedatiwa as candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 2024 governorship election.
Oladiji, who was present at the declaration of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s intention to seek the party’s ticket, said 18 lawmakers were in support of the governor’s ambition.
According to him, “18 members of Ondo State House of Assembly have agreed to support Aiyedatiwa. Even those who are not in the APC are with us in this struggle and by the grace of God, we will arrive at the promised land.”
But the 13 legislators in a statement, dismissed claims by Olajidi that they have endorsed Aiyedatiwa as candidate of the party.
The 13 lawmakers, who passed a vote of no confidence in the Speaker, said his declaration was untrue, misleading, un-parliamentary and ridiculous.
They said there was no resolution passed by the Assembly endorsing Aiyedatiwa.
The statement said: “The House of Assembly operates on democratic principles, and will formally take a collective decision, follow due process and the relevant laws governing the state where it wishes to take any decision regarding the endorsement of a governorship candidate.
“As honourable members of the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly, we were shocked and disappointed to hear the public declaration made by the Honourable Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, to the extent that the Ondo State House of Assembly has agreed to support the governorship ambition of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“At no point did the Ondo State House of Assembly deliberate on the governorship ambition of any of the numerous aspirants that have indicated their interests to contest for the state’s 2024 governorship election, let alone agree to support any particular aspirant.
“Mr. Speaker lacks the moral and legal authorities to speak or pledge support for any governorship aspirant on behalf of the House without the explicit consent of members.
“Mr. Speaker has, by his unconventional and false public declaration, misrepresented the honourable House, and in so doing, brought the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly into disrepute, needless controversies and breached our confidence in his leadership.
“Consequently, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence in the leadership of the Speaker, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji.
“The House of Assembly, however, reaffirms its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all decisions taken are transparent enough and are in the best interest of the people of Ondo State.”
Former Chief Press Secretary to the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Mr. Richard Olatunde, has said Akeredolu didn’t endorse the governorship ambition of Aiyedatiwa.
He alleged that the betrayal of Aiyedatiwa helped to hasten the death of Akeredolu.
Olatunde, who cautioned Aiyedatiwa to stop exploiting the deceased governor’s name for political gain, said Akeredolu’s family and supporters across the state were unhappy with Governor Aiyedatiwa’s deceptive tactics.
Governor Aiyedatiwa had, on Tuesday, at his official declaration to contest the governorship race, said the late Akeredolu made no pretence of his plan and desire for succession.
“He was deliberate and prophetic. He said it during our inauguration and repeatedly that ‘Lucky will succeed me. Lucky will carry on the work after me.’ At not one, not two or three sessions of the executive committee (exco) meetings had he pronounced Lucky as his desired choice to carry the flag after him.
“He was a man of vision. We will not let him down. We will not waiver. We will not falter. We will succeed. Support me to carry on the work. Work with me to bring the desired goal,” Aiyedatiwa said.
But Olatunde, in a statement issued in Akure, said the narrative regarding the alleged wish of the late Akeredolu for Aiyedatiwa to succeed him had gone too far to be disregarded.
“This narrative began even before our leader was laid to rest. Out of respect and utmost reverence for our late governor, we chose not to engage with those spreading this narrative.
“While we acknowledge that the political atmosphere in the state is intensifying, we want to unequivocally state that the late governor did not anoint or express a desire for Aiyedatiwa to succeed him. On the contrary, the relationship between the late governor and Governor Aiyedatiwa became strained and distant until his demise.
“Despite attending to official matters and meeting people from Akure, the late governor intentionally kept Mr. Aiyedatiwa, who was the deputy governor at the time, away from him in Ibadan.
“Our late governor was deeply disappointed and regretful of certain behaviours and character traits displayed by Mr. Aiyedatiwa during his health challenges, which ultimately led to his passing on.
“We have also observed the circulation of a video recorded during the swearing-in of the late governor and Mr. Aiyedatiwa as governor and deputy governor. Undoubtedly, our late governor had high hopes for Mr. Aiyedatiwa. The late Akeredolu never concealed his intentions.
“One thing that discerning minds can clearly see is the turn of events in the latter half of last year. Trust was betrayed. Confidence was shattered. And the true colours of desperation overshadowed the good intentions of our late governor. What followed was a tale of disappointment and betrayal. Our late leader, to say the least, was heartbroken before his demise.
“We, therefore, caution Mr. Aiyedatiwa to cease these deceptive tactics and focus on his campaign. Akeredolu’s ardent followers, including members of his family, do not support Mr. Aiyedatiwa’s aspiration to clinch the ticket of the party.”
Aiyedatiwa’s media consultant, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, however, said the governor is a democrat.
According to him, the 13 lawmakers are entitled to their opinion, just like the Speaker and those who support the governor in the House of Assembly are.
Ajanaku said the late Governor Akeredolu openly nominated Aiyedatiwa as his successor after taking the oath of office for his second term.
He added that Olabode, the Chief Press Secretary to the late former governor, could not speak for the Akeredolu family and his associates.
He said the governor has received the support of elders of the APC in the state as well as leaders across the 18 local governments “and he is sure to win the ticket.”
He said after the April 24 primary, Aiyedatiwa would rally APC members ahead of the governorship election in November.
