Some members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have distanced themselves from the assembly’s endorsement of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s governorship ambition, which was made public shortly after Speaker Olamide Oladiji announced support for the governorship bid.
This was reported in a statement that received by our correspondence on Wednesday and it was signed by thirteen members of the Assembly.
A vote of no confidence in the speaker was voted by the lawmakers, according to the statement.
Aiyedatiwa announced on Tuesday in Akure that he intends to run in the state’s upcoming November governorship election.
The speaker promised the governor in his goodwill speech that the Assembly members will assist him in obtaining the All Progressives Congress ticket and winning the November general election.
Oladiji said, “We have about 18 (out of 26) members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, are here with Governor Aiyedatiwa. The Ondo House is for Aiyedatiwa, even those who are not APC, they are in the same struggle with us . My advise to our leaders across the 18 local governments, go back to your local governments and do the needful.
“Let the reconciliation continue come April 24, (primary), we will deliver Hon. Aiyedatiwa. On behalf of the honourable members of Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Governor, congratulations in advance.”
Nonetheless, a few Assembly members have objected to the speaker’s statement, claiming that the house has not yet approved any candidates for governor and calling the speaker’s remarks embarrassing and regrettable.
The lawmakers who signed the statement include Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi (Majority Leader), Moyinolorun Taiwo Ogunwumiju (Parliamentary Secretary), Oluwarotimi Fasonu (Chief Whip), Olajide Oguntodu (Minority Leader), Raymond Daodu (Deputy Minority Leader), and Akinsuroju Nelson.
Others are Akomolafe Temitope, Ifabiyi Olatunji, Agbulu Akeem, Christopher Ayebusiwa, Atinuke Witherspoon, Biola Oladapo and Afe Felix.
The statement read partly, “At no point did the Ondo State House of Assembly deliberate the governorship ambition of any of the numerous aspirants that have indicated their interests to contest for the state’s 2024 governorship election, let alone agree to support any particular aspirant.
“Mr Speaker lacks the moral and legal authority to speak or pledge support for any governorship aspirant on behalf of the House without the explicit consent of members.
“Mr Speaker has, by his unconventional and false public declaration, misrepresented the honourable House, and in so doing, brought the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly into disrepute, caused needless controversies and breached our confidence in his leadership.
“Consequently, we hereby pass a vote of no-confidence in the leadership of the Speaker, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji.”
