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Tag: Lucky Aiyedatiwa

  • Aiyedatiwa ready to make necessary change, says commissioner

    Aiyedatiwa ready to make necessary change, says commissioner

    Ondo state government has said that the acting governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was prepared to make necessary change that would guarantee effective running of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration.

    It, however, said the report of freezing local government accounts and suspension of Akeredolu’s Chief of Protocol were false and misleading.

    Supporters of Aiyedatiwa had celebrated the freezing of local government account as an action taken to check the cabal in Akeredolu’s cabinet.

    Caretaker committee chairmen had received a message from the office of the acting governor asking them to stop all expenditure and not to open new accounts.

    The message read: “Distinguished HOLGAs, Your Excellency the Acting Governor of Ondo State had directed that all spending/ expenditure from local government account should be suspended, no signing of cheques, no change of signatories, no withdrawal of any sort until further directive.

    “Please adhere strictly to instruction and be guided.”

    Deputy Chief of Staff, Omojuwa Olusegun, in a letter to members of the State Executive Council and top government functionaries, said Aiyedatiwa has directed him to take responsibility for the preparation and signing of his official engagements.

    According to the letter: “The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has directed me to inform all Members of the State Executive Council and Top Government Functionaries that the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor would be responsible for the preparation and signing of his official engagements for the time being.

    “The Chief of Protocol would take charge of this responsibility as soon as Mr. Governor resumes from his medical vacation.”

    Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, in a statement, said there was no time the acting governor or any functionary of the state put a freeze on local government accounts or order any closure.

    The commissioner said necessary complimentary civil servants have been deployed to the LCDA(s) and that the State Government was committed to proper functioning of the 33 LCDA(s) and the existing 18 Local Government Area to enhance development at the grassroot.

    She said the circular by Omojuwa was misrepresented to the effect that the Chief of Protocol (CoP) to the Governor, Bola Alabi, has been placed on suspension.

    She said: “Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Chief of Protocol to Mr Governor has not been placed on suspension by the Ag. Governor nor by any person.

    “It should be noted that the schedule for the preparation of Mr. Governor’s Engagements is less than two percent of the CoP’s responsibilities.

    “Usually, suspension from duty would have warranted removal of salary and privileges, which does not happen in this case. As we speak, Mr. Bola Alabi is busy with Mr. Governor. Nevertheless, His Excellency, the Ag. Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is prepared, where necessary, to make changes that would guarantee the effective running of the administration.”

  • Heavy security at Ondo Assembly

    Heavy security at Ondo Assembly

    • Impeachment move against deputy governor begins
    • Nine lawmakers sign petition against Aiyedatiwa

    The Ondo State House of Assembly is under heavy security watch.

    Lawmakers in the Assembly yesterday began impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

    The lawmakers had denied plans to impeach the deputy governor.

    Last week, Aiyedatiwa said he would not resign from the government of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    He urged the lawmakers to disregard any letter in circulation purporting that he had resigned.

    The deputy governor said he swore to an oath of office to defend the Constitution and that he was given a four-year mandate, which has not lapsed.

    But in a twist of events, the lawmakers summoned an emergency plenary yesterday over the matter.

    The road leading to the Assembly complex was filled with security agencies.

    Some plainclothes stationed at the gate searched all vehicles going in and out of the Assembly.

    It was gathered that 23 of the 26 lawmakers have signed the impeachment notice on the deputy governor.

    At the plenary, a petition signed by nine lawmakers was presented before the Assembly.

    Majority Leader Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi moved the motion on the need for the Assembly to abide by Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution by informing Aiyedatiwa of the “gross allegations” against him.

    “I rise to move a motion of allegation of gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. I hereby move a motion that this House shall write to the deputy governor on the allegations against him,” Ogunmolasuyi said.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Ondo Deputy Governor faces impeachment

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker representing Akoko Southwest Constituency II, Tope Angbulu, seconded the motion.

    Reacting to the motion, Speaker Olamide Olajide said: “The motion has been moved and duly seconded according to Section 188 that this House should do the needful on allegations of misconduct against Aiyedatiwa.”

    The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Benjamin Jaiyeola, to write Aiyedatiwa on the allegations of levelled against him.

    It was gathered that the deputy governor was being investigated for allegedly approving N300 million for buying a bulletproof sport utility vehicle (SUV) for his personal use.

    The money was allegedly approved when Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was recuperating in a Germany hospital.

    A source told our correspondent that Aiyedatiwa ordered that the N300 million be sourced from the palliative provided by the Federal Government to support the poor in the state.

    Aiyedatiwa fell out with Governor Akeredolu after the governor travelled to Ibadan for a short rest before jetting out for medical vacation, which lasted three months.