Ondo Assembly Begins Impeachment Process against Deputy Governor over Alleged Misconduct

Fidelis David in Akure

The Ondo State House of Assembly, yesterday, commenced an impeachment process against the state deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over allegations of gross misconduct, among other impeachable offences. This followed an emergency plenary session summoned by the Assembly in Akure, the state capital, amid heavy security presence.

THISDAY gathered that other allegations against the deputy governor included abuse of office with actions likely to bring down Ondo State Government.

It was learnt that Aiyedatiwa, allegedly, approved millions of naira for the purchase of a bulletproof SUV for his personal use, to be sourced from the palliative fund, while Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was recuperating in Germany.

The Assembly directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to write Aiyedatiwa over the allegations levelled against him.

The petition, which had been signed by nine out of the 26 members of the 10th Assembly, was read during the plenary presided by Speaker Olamide Oladiji.

Earlier, Majority Leader of the House quoted Section 188 of the Nigeria constitution to justify the need to write the deputy governor over the allegations, and it was seconded by the lawmaker representing Akoko South West II, Tope Agbulu.

Thereafter, the speaker ruled that the deputy governor should be served a letter after the lawmakers voted unanimously.

However, the deputy governor was yet to reply to the decision of the lawmakers at press time. As a source close to him said the impeachment notice had not b formally communicated to him.

Sources in government revealed that the governor and his deputy were at loggerheads over an alleged betrayal of trust on the part of Aiyedatiwa while he held forth.

There was also a noticeable crack in the state cabinet, with some members aligning with the deputy governor while some distanced themselves from him.

The cold war within the state cabinet was attributed to an alleged bid by Aiyedatiwa to succeed Akeredolu in office in 2024. As a result, Akeredolu, two days after returning from his three-month medical vacation in Germany, disbanded the media crew attached to the office of Aiyedatiwa, confirming that all was not well between the first and second citizens of the Sunshine State.

The affected aides included Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Abayomi Samson Adefolalu.

Last Friday, the deputy governor debunked rumour that he had resigned from office, declaring that his tenure would end on February 23, 2025.

He stated, “I wish to state that I, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, have not, do not intend and will not sign/author any letter resigning my position as the duly elected deputy governor in a joint ticket with my principal, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON.

“I took an oath the day I was sworn in along with Mr. Governor on February 24th, 2021 to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a four-year mandate, which terminates on February 23rd, 2025.”

Aiyedatiwa, who reiterated his loyalty to Akeredolu, added that he remained calm and committed to the duties of his office and unruffled by the lies of desperate politicians and their agents.

He said, “I remain loyal to my principal and stand by the oath I took with the Bible to run the full cycle of the four-year tenure with Mr. Governor. To this end, I urge the people of Ondo State, the state Assembly, and the general public to disregard such letter now and in the future.”