The Ondo State House of Assembly has chosen to suspend the impeachment process directed towards Deputy Governor Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa. This pivotal decision was reached during a recent plenary session and is a direct response to the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, who declined to convene a panel for the investigation of the embattled deputy governor. The House Committee on Information’s Chairman, Mr. Olatunji Oshati, emphasized that they would respect the court’s order, leading to the suspension of the impeachment process. This case illustrates that the process of impeachment transcends the monopoly of the legislature, as the judiciary has intervened.
The Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, communicated his inability to set up the panel due to a court’s ex parte order, preventing him from carrying out the Assembly’s directive. In response to these developments, a socio-cultural organization, the Egbe Omo Ilaje Worldwide, has called upon influential figures such as President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of Afenifere, and traditional rulers to intervene in Ondo State’s political affairs.
The group expressed concerns over the ongoing impeachment process, believed to stem from a rift between Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. They called for urgent intervention from the President, the All Progressives Congress leadership, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure stability and peaceful coexistence in the state.
The group’s statement read, “The National Executive Council and the good people of Ilaje nation call on the state and national leadership of APC and the President, Bola Tinubu, for his urgent intervention and prevailed on the members of Ondo State House of Assembly to discontinue this ill-conceived and politically motivated impeachment plot against His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the deputy governor of Ondo State, to ensure stability in the polity and for the peaceful coexistence in Ondo State.”
Amid the persistent political turmoil that engulfs the state, The traditional rulers and Afenifere leaders are urged to actively and sincerely engage with their counterparts and various stakeholders, fostering dialogue and cooperation in their relentless pursuit of an amicable resolution. This concerted effort is not only essential for averting the state’s descent into the throes of avoidable socio-economic and political chaos but also for nurturing a climate of stability, progress, and prosperity that will benefit all its inhabitants.
In this complex and evolving political landscape, the rule of law and the balance of powers are pivotal, ensuring that accountability and justice are upheld. The events in Ondo State highlight the delicate interplay between the different branches of government and the necessity for responsible governance. It is a situation that calls for careful consideration and measured action.
Source: [Punch]
