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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
An Abuja-based lawyer, Donald Ayibiowu, has called on Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to stop the impeachment move against his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, by the House of Assembly.
In an open letter he wrote to the governor and made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Wednesday, Ayibiowu, an indigene of Okelusi Town in Ondo State, advised Akeredolu not to make Aiyedatiwa, a scapegoat for the allegation the governor’s wife, Betty, is culpable.
He said that the governor needs to be circumspect by interrogating events during the period of his absence in order not to make the embattled deputy governor a scapegoat for what he wasn’t solely responsible for.
According to the lawyer, the governor does not need the distraction of impeachment in his strive to put the state back on the pedestal of development with his return from his medical leave.
“Now that you are back and still recuperating in your Ibadan home, but in the light of your communication to the Ondo State House of Assembly that you have resumed work, one expects that you take charge fully of affairs of our dear Ondo State, notwithstanding, the shenanigans of family, friends and close political associates.
“The shocking news of the on-going pointless impeachment of your deputy, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is the least the people expect from our dear state.
“I dare say that your deputy should not be made the ‘scape goat’ for what the whole world can see glaringly as ‘fuji house of commotion’ in your absence. To participate, consent or authorise his removal would mean that you have taken sides.
“Your Excellency, your approach should be to declare that ‘all have sinned and come short of the glory of God’, because I believe you don’t even know who is right, wrong, true, good or bad.
“One of the news that sent shocks down the spine of Nigerians, particularly, we, the Ondo State indigenes, was the attempt by your amiable wife (The First Lady) to celebrate her 70th birthday while you were gasping for life on the hospital bed outside Nigeria.
“It took public denunciation for her to withdraw the published invitation of the event. What shall we say to that? You cannot be seen to want to adopt a one-sided narration of wrongdoing in your absence
“This move will be misunderstood by most people; it will obstruct proper governance, and due administration and it will subject our state to another round of ignoble national odious and negative perception that comes with such exertion,” he said.
Ayibiowu noted that if some of the power brokers within the state had scores to settle with Aiyedatiwa, they should rather do so privately and not fiddle with the peace and integrity of the state.
“I wish to place on record that I have been your ardent supporter from your days as NBA President and I don’t know your deputy in person, I have never met him in person or by proxy, neither do I intend to hold brief for him.
“I believe he may have, or harbor gubernatorial ambition after your tenure but I will like to tell you that the deputy governor, as Acting Governor, if he was very desperate, could have sacked some of your appointees or could have radically altered the status quo in your absence.
“But he didn’t do any of these things, I’m not implying that he is a saint, no one is either,” he added
The lawyer implored the governor to insist on due process and the rule of law if the impeachment process must proceed, saying: “Mr. Governor, the law is settled per the position of the Supreme Court in Inakoju v. Adeleke on the process and procedures for the removal of persons holding the Office of the Governor/Deputy Governor.”