Peace Again As Ondo Assembly Speaker Suspends Impeachment Of Deputy Gov, Aiyedatiwa…see details

…after meeting with APC Chairman, Ganduje

The house said this came after the intervention of the leadership of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) led by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The Ondo State House of Assembly said on Wednesday it has suspended the impeachment process against the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The house said this came after the intervention of the leadership of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) led by the National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

The Deputy governor came under the threat of impeachment by the Assembly following allegations of gross misconduct which was why the Assembly served him notice of impeachment, which he also challenged in court to stall the process.

Speaking after a closed door meeting, which lasted for about two hours at the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja, on Tuesday  both Ganduje and the Assembly Speaker, Hon. Oladeji Olamide, confirmed the development to suspend the impeachment process.

Ganduje appraised all the stakeholders in the crisis for allowing a political solution to the impasse in the state.

The party Chairman stressed that the decision by the lawmakers to ceasefire showed that they were democrats and committed party faithful.

“First of all, I have to thank the Speaker and his members of the State Assembly for honouring our invitation to have an in-depth discussion and receive an interim report from the reconciliation committee.

“We thank you for that. This is proof that you are real democrats, civilised and believe in conflict resolution. I have to thank everybody in the reconciliation committee, which has experienced members, several senators, House of Representatives members and even the two-term governor of Katsina, Aminu Masari who joined us.

“I have to thank the State Assembly for agreeing to suspend the impeachment process and give room for a political solution to the problem. As the reconciliation chairman has mentioned, they didn’t meet the governor and his deputy yet. But they met all the stakeholders. That was what warranted the meeting today.

“And now, having suspended the impeachment process, they have created a conducive environment to continue dialoguing. We believe that we will reach a political solution. APC, as a political party, is an institution that is indispensable to democracy.

“Therefore, apart from our basic function for recruitment of membership, elected officers and appointed officers, it is our responsibility to see that all the ethics of democracy are followed, and crisis averted in our government, both at subnational level and at international level.

“It is a political crisis, and we are a political institution. So, there’s no way we can fold our arms and see that our children are fighting and we allow them to go like that,” Ganduje stated.

Speaker Olamide said the Assembly was ready to cooperate as an arm of government with the party, adding: “We promised to work with the national chairman and the chairman of the reconciliation committee to find a lasting solution to the political crisis in Ondo State.

“We gave a promise that on our part, we are ready to cooperate as an arm of government with the party. At the same time, whenever they want to meet us, we will be of help to the committee. More importantly, we will allow the committee to do their work without hitches. Apart from that, we believe this is the only political solution that will be of help to resolve the crisis in Ondo State.”

Chairman of the reconciliation committee said the impeachment process had been suspended.

“For now, the probe and impeachment process have been suspended to allow room for the committee to work. We met with all stakeholders, except for the governor who we are still making an effort to see,” he said.

The party Chairman stressed that the decision by the lawmakers to ceasefire showed that they were democrats and committed party faithful.

“First of all, I have to thank the Speaker and his members of the State Assembly for honouring our invitation to have an in-depth discussion and receive an interim report from the reconciliation committee.

“We thank you for that. This is proof that you are real democrats, civilised and believe in conflict resolution. I have to thank everybody in the reconciliation committee, which has experienced members, several senators, House of Representatives members and even the two-term governor of Katsina, Aminu Masari who joined us.

“I have to thank the State Assembly for agreeing to suspend the impeachment process and give room for a political solution to the problem. As the reconciliation chairman has mentioned, they didn’t meet the governor and his deputy yet. But they met all the stakeholders. That was what warranted the meeting today.

“And now, having suspended the impeachment process, they have created a conducive environment to continue dialoguing. We believe that we will reach a political solution. APC, as a political party, is an institution that is indispensable to democracy.

“Therefore, apart from our basic function for recruitment of membership, elected officers and appointed officers, it is our responsibility to see that all the ethics of democracy are followed, and crisis averted in our government, both at subnational level and at international level.

“It is a political crisis, and we are a political institution. So, there’s no way we can fold our arms and see that our children are fighting and we allow them to go like that,” Ganduje stated.

Speaker Olamide said the Assembly was ready to cooperate as an arm of government with the party, adding: “We promised to work with the national chairman and the chairman of the reconciliation committee to find a lasting solution to the political crisis in Ondo State.

“We gave a promise that on our part, we are ready to cooperate as an arm of government with the party. At the same time, whenever they want to meet us, we will be of help to the committee. More importantly, we will allow the committee to do their work without hitches. Apart from that, we believe this is the only political solution that will be of help to resolve the crisis in Ondo State.”

Chairman of the reconciliation committee said the impeachment process had been suspended.

“For now, the probe and impeachment process have been suspended to allow room for the committee to work. We met with all stakeholders, except for the governor who we are still making an effort to see,” he said.

(SaharaReporters)