Fasoranti, Ondo Elders Intervene In Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa’s Rift
*To meet with gladiators, Assembly members
Elders in Ondo State, comprising traditional and spiritual heads and leaders of pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Monday, intervened in the political crisis rocking the state and resolved to put to an end to the face-off between Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The leaders, who converged on the Akure country home of the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, called for an immediate ceasefire among the gladiators, particularly the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Aiyedatiwa.
While briefing newsmen on behalf of Fasoranti after a closed-door meeting, the immediate past General Secretary of Afenifere, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, disclosed that the move to resolve the situation had commenced with the plan to meet all the principal actors.
He said: “The elders’ meeting was summoned by the Afenifere leader and, by implication, the Yoruba leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, to discuss issues in our own state.
“It is still ongoing; we just started the discussion about the problems happening in the state. Having looked at so many things, it was the conclusion of the elders and leaders of Ondo State that, for now, there should be no impeachment of either the governor or the deputy. We are still looking at how things are going. We still have a lot; we just started.”
On his part, the Lisa of Ondo Kingdom, Sir Simeon Oguntimehin, said the meeting decided and confirmed that no attempt should be made to impeach either the governor or the deputy governor.
Also, a former Vice-Chancellor of Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Olu Aderounmu, called on all to work with the elders, saying: “We mean well for this state. We particularly want the state House of Assembly to, if called upon, listen to Pa Fasoranti and the elders in the state.
“Some of the elders participated actively in the creation of this state, so they are concerned. We want to appeal to everybody to work with the elders. Ondo State used to be the leading state in the federation, whether you talk about education, human resources, or material resources. We want to continue to be the number one state in the country.”
Ondo State has been engulfed in a political crisis due to the strained relationship between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, with the House of Assembly initiating impeachment proceedings against the latter.
