There is palpable tension in Ondo State as a group, Arise For Change and Good Governance, has alleged that the embattled Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is allegedly planning to cause unrest over his impeachment proceedings by the state House of Assembly.
The group, Arise For Change and Good Governance, also alleged that Aiyedatiwa had been calling different groups and unions to stage protests in the state capital and set some buildings, including the House of Assembly, on fire.
The ACGG in a statement titled, “Aiyedatiwa Beating The Drum Of War In Ondo” and signed by its publicity secretary, Yemi Ogundele, said the impeachment of a deputy governor should not be escalated to crisis, adding that the deputy governor is not bigger than the state.
“We have it on good authority that the Deputy Governor has been calling militants, ex-militants and some youths inciting them to besiege Akure, the state capital and cause unrest.
“Part of his plans is to mobilise some youths and attack innocent residents in Akure, making it look like a bloodbath. There is also information that these youths will take over the state capital in a protest manner and set the House of Assembly and other government buildings on fire.
“In the different conversations that have been held on some social media platforms, these youths have been promised thousands of dollars to execute the plans.
“The deputy governor and his supporters are boasting of spending thousands of dollars. They are assuring the youths that some associations and highly placed individuals have contributed money to fight for the deputy governor.
“These plans are being orchestrated by Aiyedatiwa and three of his core loyalists. It is clear that the only way they are luring these youths is with money. We are adequately informed that some mercenaries have also been imported into the state to foment trouble.
“We are hereby calling on the security agencies and other authorities to reign-in Aiyedatiwa and his group. We are not interested in the feud between the deputy governor and the House of Assembly. What we are interested in is the peace of Ondo State.
“Let it be on record that the issue of deputy governor’s impeachment cannot hold the state to ransom. The state and its institutions are bigger than any politician and their ambitions. We shall expose and rise against anyone, either the deputy governor, his associate, the House of Assembly or the governor, who plans to set the state on fire. Our ultimate goal is to protect the peace and tranquility in the Sunshine State.
“By this statement, we are alerting the security agencies, general public and the good people of Ondo State to resist these agents of destabilisation and foil their attempt to cause unrest in Ondo State,” Ogundele alleged in a report by ThePointng.com
Efforts to get the reaction of the Deputy Governor are unsuccessful as no official spokesman for him.
But the lawyer to the Deputy Governor,
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, in a recent letter to the State Chief Judge, said “Consequently, it is our considered view that the matter of the planned removal of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State is now subjudice.
“Parties should follow the due process of law, the House of Assembly itself being a creation of law, seeking to implement the provisions of law, rightly or wrongly.
“It cannot and should not be allowed to take the law into its own hands by openly disregarding a subsisting order of court and other court processes duly served upon it. While thanking My Lord for the kind considerations, we extend the best assurances of our warmest regards, always,” said Adegboruwa.
Also reacting, one of the frontline loyalists and APC Chieftain, Johnson Alabi said, “The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, H. E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his allies read with dismay, the allegations by a faceless group called Arise For Change and Good Governance, that Aiyedatiwa and his allies are planning to cause mayhem and distabilize Ondo State.
“We hereby wish to state categorically that Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his followers across Ondo State and beyond are peace loving people who believe in the rule of law. It’s not possible for us to be in court and still be fighting on the streets. It’s either that we are fighting or that we go to court. But as for us, we have chosen to go the way of the law. Akure is our land, the people living there are our people, and we can’t be fighting our own people.
“We have never mentioned anywhere of any plan to fight anybody. All that we have been propagating is that those involved in the impeachment plan should respect the rule of the law by obeying court order(s). It is based on this that we have enjoyed the support of the people of Ondo State.
“While we promise to be law abiding as ever, we will continue to handle all things peacefully without causing harm to anyone. We see this as a plan to pitch the Security Agencies against Aiyedatiwa and his allies. As for us, we will not yield to any form of intimidation because the cause we are fighting is for justice and constitutional rights.
“We want to use this medium to appreciate all the people of Ondo State, men and women who have stood their grounds to resist the injustice been attempted on Aiyedatiwa. Because ‘injury to one is injury to all.
“What God had finished can no longer finish us.” Alabi Johnson said.
