Politics

Impeachment: Akeredolu Shops For New Deputy Governor

Published

7 months ago

October 2, 2023

Indications emerged that Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is searching for a new deputy governor to replace the embattled Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

A government source told Vanguard in Akure, the Ondo state capital, that the governor has insisted that if Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment succeeds, another party leader from Ilaje would be appointed to complete his term.

Already, the source said that four prominent personalities have been penciled down, and they include the former OSOPADEC Chairman, Gbenga Edema; a party chieftain, Nimbe Tawose; the Deputy Speaker in the State House of Assembly, Abayomi Akinruntan; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Wunmi Ilawole.

Vanguard gathered that the governor has also insisted that the replacement be someone who doesn’t have any governorship ambitions to avoid another distraction.

Another source within the party confided in Vanguard that Akeredolu initially kicked against the impeachment of his deputy.

The source added that the governor personally called the state party chairman, Ade Adetimehin, to prevail on the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt Hon Olamide Oladiji, to halt the impeachment process.

He reportedly bought into the process when he was presented with some weighty allegations against the deputy governor while he acted as the state acting governor by top party chieftains and aides.

According to the source “Aiyedatiwa’s issue has caused the governor a lot of heartbreak. You know many people weren’t happy with the choice of Lucky as deputy governor in 2020. Notwithstanding, the governor made the choice without minding anyone’s opinion.

“The recent issues have really broken the governor. He’s a man that doesn’t like “I told you so”. It was so obvious that he liked Lucky. He treated him like a younger brother with so much love and respect. The Governor trusts too much.

“Even the First Lady is heartbroken. She was so fond of Lucky. They were also pretty close. Mrs Akeredolu regarded Lucky as part of their family. That was the level of their relationship.

“Even with all the schemings by Lucky, when the governor came back he told his people to move on and forget it. The only reason he fired Lucky’s media aides was because of a planted story against him which he confirmed.

“Governor Akeredolu is a man with a large heart. He didn’t want to rock the boat. He had wanted Lucky to finish his tenure as the deputy governor but he was not also comfortable that he would be suppressing such allegations against Lucky. He wanted his deputy to defend himself.” The source said.

“Akeredolu is just not lucky with his two deputy governors. He trusted them but they betrayed the trust. They were just too ambitious.

“Aiyedatiwa has forgotten that it’s God that enthroned. He moved faster than his legs. He allowed himself to be pushed. He’s just not patient enough.

“It’s just unfortunate; lucky was unlucky. The allegations against him couldn’t be swept under the carpet.”

Recall that Aiyedatiwa has denied all the allegations of gross misconduct describing them as fabricated lies against him and those desperate to kick him out.

The deputy governor was expected to react to the 14 allegations of gross misconduct level against him this week.

Meanwhile, the 9-man committee set up by the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress to resolve the imbroglio between Akeredolu and his deputy are expected in the state this week.

A top government source said that the committee chairman, who is a former governor of Katsina State, Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, has written to all stakeholders in a bid to reconcile all parties involved.

The national leadership of the party was disturbed by the unfortunate political situation in the state, which, if not quickly averted, may lead to further disaffection among the party faithful.

Their intervention, the source told Vanguard “is to foster a better understanding that may likely lead to an amicable resolution.”

Politics

Edo Labour Party Suspends Youth Leader

Published

2 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Leadership of the Edo State chapter of Labour Party says it has suspended Youth Leader of the party, Ken Omusi, over an alleged invasion of the party secretariat in Benin City on Thursday.

Omosi, alongside other youths were said to have invaded the party secretariat, sacked the the Kelly Ogbaloi-led State Working Committee and declared himself (Omosi) as the acting chairman of the party.

He further claimed that over the last three months, not less than 350 members had been suspended on the WhatsApp platform of the party by the state chairman without the backing of the party.

While announcing the dissolution of the executives of the party, Omusi called on the national leadership of the party in Abuja to ratify their actions and resolutions.

But addressing newsmen in Benin, chairman of the party, Ogbaloi, while condemning the invasion by the Youth Leader, noted that Omusi has since been suspended for anti-party activities.

Ogbaloi added that the State Working Committee, in the spirit of brotherhood ahead of the governorship election, has lifted the suspension earlier slammed on some members.

According to him, a reconciliation committee would be set up by the state executive to make peace with any of the aggrieved members before the election.

He, however, appealed to members of the party to leverage on the forthcoming new voter registration exercise to expand the voters base as well as ensure broader participation in the electoral process.

“A robust membership drive shall be launched to attract new members and reconcile with the disenchanted individuals who have legitimate grievances”, he added.

He equally urged all members of the party, as well eligible voters in the state, to rally behind the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata and his running mate, Prince Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, in the election

Politics

Rivers Crisis: Why Gov Fubura Got Into ‘Trouble’ – Secondus

Published

4 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has said Rivers State Governor, Similaye Fubura, was being haunded by his political opponents for daring to prevent the looting of the state.

He explained that the political crisis in the state was orchestrated by those who demand unfettered access to the finances of the state a demand the governor has refused to accept.

Secondus who spoke in Abuja, on Saturday, also accused the immediate past Governor of the state and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, of being the brain behind Fubura’s political troubles.

He explained that Wike’s conduct, utterances and unrelenting fued with the governor, has cast the state in bad light.

Secondus said, “Wike has been Governor for eight years and is now Minister of the FCT. As Minister, what, has he (Wike) attracted in terms of Federal projects to our dear State since he assumed office? Perhaps misery, grief, and anguish. As Governor he had supervised the exit of investors from the state due to his draconian policies.

“He had on an occasion mentioned that he is capable of causing crisis and he is not far from the truth, as he is causing an unfathomable crisis in Rivers State.

“Mrs Patience Jonathan and I worked for his emergence as governor, have we ever breathed down his neck? Instead what we get is disrespect and insults.

“ I can attest to Dr. Odili’s performance as Governor being the State PDP chairman then. I hasten to say without any fear of contradiction that he is the best governor of Rivers State in this dispensation.

“Wike claims that our revered Dr. Odili made him but in his characteristic manner, he publicly ridiculed the Odili’s without any justification. He owes them an unreserved apology and he should do so publicly.

“These media attacks against the political leaders of Rivers State are unwarranted and diversionary.

“For the records you should account for the three hundred million dollars($300m) you collected from the NNPC for the Ogoni Oil well and the cash refund made by the Saipem oil and gas company and subsequently account for your eight-year tenure of over N4Trillion realized, mismanaged and squandered. Rather than trying to cover your inadequacies through media attacks.”

These attacks, he stressed, might dovetail into a national crisis if not properly checked.

While appealing to President Bola Tinubu to reign in the FCT minister, Secondus added, “I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prevail on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to stop overheating the Rivers State political atmosphere and allow Fubara to work. Whatever Wike thinks he is It must be stressed that Rivers people made him.”

Politics

Edo Guber: Labour Party Names Campaign Council

Published

5 hours ago

May 11, 2024

Editor

The Edo State chapter of Labour Party, LP, has named the party’s campaign council ahead of the governorship election slated for September 21st, 2024.

The state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, disclosed this after a stakeholders’ meeting comprising members of the State Working Committee, senatorial, local government leaders and executives across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The meeting which was held at the party’s secretariat in Benin City on Saturday was also attended by governorship candidate of the party, Barrister Olumide Akpata and his running mate, Prince Yusuf Asamah Kadiri.

Ogbaloi said members of the campaign council would be inaugurated on Monday, May 13, 2024.

He said the campaign council would be led by Reverend Sam Omede as the Director-General, with Dr Ehikioya Agboga as Deputy Director as well as deputy director general for Edo central senatorial district.

Other members of the council are Senator Ned Imasuen, representing Edo South senatorial district in the Senate, Hon Esosa Iyawe and Hon Murphy Osaro Omoruyi, representing Oredo and Egor/Ikpoba Okha federal constituencies, respectively, in the National Assembly.

“In preparation for the upcoming election, we have meticulously selected individuals of impeccable character to lead the State Campaign Council and local government campaign committees,” he said.