The political crisis in Ondo state might be far from ending as politicians and stakeholders in the state on Saturday expressed divergent views on the outcome of President Bola Tinubu‘s intervention in the feud between Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Tinubu had on early hours of Saturday ordered that status quo be maintained between the two warring parties.
However, some leaders who spoke in separate interviews said they were yet to understand the ‘status quo’ to be maintained.
According to them, events in the coming days would determine if truce was actually reached.
Reacting, The Ondo Liberation Initiative (OLI) commended President Tinubu for not allowing the situation degenerate to bloodshed.
The Spokesman for the group, Mr. Johnson Alabi, said the resolution reached has not answered their demand on the whereabout of Governor Akeredolu.
He said relevant sections of the constitution should be invoked should Akeredolu fail to resume after 90 days.
Also in a Reaction, the Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State described President Tinubu’s intervention as ‘mere window dressing’ saying it was not yet uhuru as long as ‘Akeredolu remains in hiding.’
Spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, said supporters of Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa interpreted the resolutions as being in their favour.
He said: “Mrs Betty Akeredolu celebrated the resolutions on her verified X-handle as “Hottest Breakfast to last everybody till 2025”. To Aiyedatiwa’s supporters, their worries about impeachment are over.
“Let us pray that, the Presidential intervention will not go the way of the Bello Masari Reconciliation Committee set up by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. After several trips to Abuja at Taxpayers’ expense, both parties returned to Court despite promises to withdraw all cases.
“From what we have read about the outcome, Tinubu’s intervention is a mere window dressing. Out of respect for his office, the impeachment of the Deputy Governor will no longer see daylight, but as long as Akeredolu remains in hiding, it is not yet Uhuru, the cat and mouse race will still continue. The siege is not yet over.”
The Owo is One Association was also divided as Mr. Olushina Fatai Lawal carpeted Chief Akin Aruwajoye for rooting for Ayedatiwa to be declared an Acting Governor pending the time Governor Akeredolu fully recovered from his ailment.
Lawal said Akeredolu was still attending to files and that the state was moving forward under his leadership.
“On Aketi’s issue, Ogbeni Oja has no right to speak on behalf of the Owo people. Owo people are proud of Aketi and we will continue to dissociate ourselves from any selfish leader who will join external forces to humiliate Aketi.”
The Ogwagbeminuyi of Owo Kingdom, Dr Soji Ehinlanwo, praised President Tinubu for providing an even-handed resolution to the political crisis in Ondo state.
He urged all stakeholders to embrace the terms of the resolution in good faith and focus on governance without any malice.
