By Roving Reporters
An Ondo State lawmaker, Hon. Fatai Atere, has made a bombshell confession, revealing how members of the Ondo State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker Olamide Oladiji allegedly “orchestrated a kangaroo impeachment” against the then Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, during the heat of 2023 political crisis in the state.
Atere, who represents Akoko North-West Constituency 1, said in a viral seven-minute video on Monday that he personally participated in the impeachment move but later withdrew after “his conscience pricked him” and Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo (BTO) intervened from abroad.
“We orchestrated a kangaroo impeachment against the Deputy Governor, now the Governor. I won’t lie — I signed the document. We were under pressure and the process was being coordinated under the leadership of the Speaker,” Atere confessed.
“But when BTO, who was then in Paris, saw my name on the impeachment list, he called me immediately. He said, ‘Atere, why will you impeach Aiyedatiwa when there’s no evidence of corruption against him?’ That call changed everything.”
According to the lawmaker, the intervention from Tunji-Ojo, coupled with his own moment of conscience, caused cracks in the Assembly’s plan.
“At plenary the next day, I stood up and announced my withdrawal from the impeachment process. My decision gave courage to eight other members who were troubled by guilt. We withdrew, and that ended the kangaroo plan,” he said.
He added that if the plan had succeeded, it would have thrown the entire state into chaos.
“They needed 18 signatures to remove him; we stopped it at nine. That was how Aiyedatiwa survived. If not for God and BTO, the state would have been on fire,” Atere stated.
The lawmaker also accused some political figures now close to the Governor of hypocrisy, claiming they were the same people who wanted him impeached.
“Those running around the Governor today were the same people who wanted him out then. They called us names for standing by him. Now they are the ones whispering lies to divide Aiyedatiwa and BTO,” he said.
He further revealed that BTO continued to support Aiyedatiwa during the party’s governorship primary and election.
“During the primaries, many of us preferred another aspirant, but BTO told us to stand by Aiyedatiwa. He gave his full support, financially and politically,” Atere disclosed.
“The Governor himself told us he has no fight with BTO. If the story has now changed, may God be the judge,” he concluded.
🧩 Political Undercurrent
Atere’s confession has deepened political intrigue in the ruling APC, reopening debates over the impeachment saga and the true nature of the relationship between Governor Aiyedatiwa and Minister Tunji-Ojo (BTO).
Analysts say the revelation could further polarize the political camp ahead of the 2026 elections, as both figures command significant grassroots support across Ondo State.
