• Pass vote of no confidence on him
• Stop dropping Akeredolu’s name, he never endorsed you, late gov’s CPS tells governor
The ambition of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to clinch the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to witness various twists, with 13 lawmakers in the state’s House of Assembly lashing out at the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, for publicly endorsing Aiyedatiwa.
The lawmakers said that the Speaker goofed on his action by using the Assembly as a tool of endorsement.
Oladiji had, on Tuesday, during the official declaration of Aiyedatiwa to run for governor, rallied support for him, stressing that the 26 lawmakers were in support of his aspiration.
Infuriated by the development, the lawmakers, in a statement, yesterday, passed a vote of no confidence on the Speaker, accusing him of ridiculing the independence and integrity of the Assembly.
According to the lawmakers, they were shocked and disappointed to hear the public declaration made by the Speaker that the House had agreed to support Aiyedatiwa’s ambition.
The legislators, while describing the declaration as untrue, misleading, un-parliamentary and ridiculous, said: “The Ondo State House of Assembly wishes to categorically state that it has not passed any resolution to endorse the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, as purportedly announced by the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.”
The Assembly, however, reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all decisions taken are transparent and in the best interest of the people of Ondo State.
MEANWHILE, the political tension in Ondo State took another dimension, yesterday, following the stance of the former Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the late Akeredolu, Richard Olatunde, that Aiyedatiwa should refrain from invoking the late governor’s name for political gain.
Aiyedatiwa had, at different times, particularly during his official declaration to run for governor, disclosed that his late boss had endorsed him and wished that he succeeded him.
According to Olatunde, there was a strained relationship between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa until the passing of the former governor, who was said to have been stunned by how he was allegedly betrayed by his erstwhile deputy.
The former spokesperson of the late governor further revealed that the development led to the directive by Akeredolu not to allow Aiyedatiwa to have access to him while in Ibadan before his demise.
