Ten of the 26 Ondo state House of Assembly members have dissociated themselves from the letter written by Speaker Olamide Oladiji to the state Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to probe the deputy governor, Hon Lucky Ayedatiwa over alleged gross misconduct.
The 10 lawmakers described Speaker Oladiji’s letter dated October 23, to investigate the deputy governor as shocking, “coming to us on social media”.
Signatories to the letter include Hon. Japheth Oluwatoyin, Jide Oguntodu, Tiamiyu Fatai Atere, Allen Oluwatoyin, Abitogun Stephen, Tope Komolafe, Afe Felix, Oladapo Biola, Fayemi Olawumi and Oshati Olatunji.
The lawmakers said: “We wish to state further that the decision to transmit such letter by the speaker. Rt. Hon Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, in our view, is in the least unwarranted and uncalled for.
“The order of interim injunction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division, of 21st day of September 2023, which has restrained the speaker and Ondo State House of Assembly, as 4th and 6th respondents respectively, is still subsisting, since it has neither be vacated nor set aside.
“For us to act in contravention of the subsisting order of Court will certainly be contemptuous.
“The National Leaders of the All Progressive Congress, on 17th October, 2023, invited all the members of the party of Ondo State House of Assembly to the National Secretariat of the party and pleaded for an amicable and political solution to the issue of the impeachment process, initiated by the House against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
“Without hesitation, the request was acceded to, in the interest of the party and peace of Ondo State, by the State chairman of APC, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, who consequently addressed press immediately after the meeting.
“It will be untidy in our view to get back to Ondo State and act otherwise.
“The decision to transmit the purported letter of Ondo State House of Assembly, dated 23rd October, 2023, signed by Rt. Hon Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, was taken without a formal sitting of the House and our knowledge as members of the 10th Assembly.
“However, we reiterate our unalloyed respect and support to our amiable Governor, His Excellency: Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, a man of peace and leader per excellence, who strongly believed in peace and progress of Ondo State.
“We equally call on His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, to earnestly tow the path of the agreement for amicable and political solution to the impeachment saga, as brokered by the National Working Committee of All Progressive Congress.
Spokesperson for the assembly, Hon Olatunji Oshati, when contacted, said “The letter is true. It actually emanated from us. If you look at the content of the letter, it addressed a particular point—the last letter sent to the Chief Judge of Ondo State by the Speaker.
“The speaker did not consult well. It has to be a collective responsibility because we have lawyers among us who normally advise us on the implications of some of the things we do when it comes to legal issues.”
Blueprint Weekend made frantic efforts to speak with Speaker Olamide Oladiji to no avail.
