The efforts of the Reconciliation Committee set up by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, to resolve the political friction between Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, may have suffered a setback.
This is just as the committee was said to have sidelined a critical stakeholder in the impasse, Akeredolu, and failed to interface with him on the lingering impeachment process.
It was gathered that the committee had earlier invited and engaged the Chairman of the APC in the state, Ade Adetimehin, and members of the National Assembly in Abuja, and the committee also engaged the deputy governor.
An impeccable source within the committee revealed that Akeredolu was sidelined, saying most members of the committee have an unresolved grudge against Akeredolu, which is not unconnected with his blunt stance on national issues.
According to a party source in the state, who noted that the chairman of the committee and former Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, had been nursing grievances against Akeredolu over their alleged clashes at the Progressives Governors’ Forum meetings while Masari was Governor,
“The source said, ‘The committee has already made up its mind. Except for the former governor of Osun State and the Lagos State deputy governor, others in the committee have one or two issues to settle with the governor.
“Many of them have been waiting for an opportunity to flex muscle with the governor. They see Akeredolu as a very stubborn person. They didn’t like his public stance on issues like Fulani herdsmen and the demand for restructuring.
“There are people in the committee who hate Akeredolu because he led the establishment of Amotekun in the Southwest. Most of the moves against the governor now are because of his stance on national issues.
“The committee is also biassed. The truth is that seven out of the eight members of the House of Representatives and the three senators from the state have asked Aiyedatiwa to go and apologise to his boss, but the committee is assuring him that nothing will happen to him even if he doesn’t apologise.
“‘As it stands, the committee is not giving any chance to the governor. Even without calling the governor, they are getting ready to prepare their recommendation to the party. It’s clear that the recommendation will be against the governor and members of the House of Assembly.”
It will be recalled that the National Chairman of the party, Ganduje, during the inauguration of the committee, emphasised the need to ensure a sound working relationship between the governor and his deputy.
He expressed optimism that the members of the committee with vast experience in public service have the wherewithal to achieve the goal.
He said, “As a political party, we are interested in seeing that there is peaceful coexistence and a good working relationship between the governor of Ondo State and his deputy.
“In order to see how we can solve this problem, it is important to set up a reconciliation committee. A reconciliation committee must be comprised of people who have relevant experience and cognitive knowledge of the issue before us.”
The terms and references of the committee include: “To interface and engage with all contending partners with a view to gathering facts and circumstances surrounding the lingering impeachment process of the Ondo State Deputy Governor.
“To advise the party on the most amicable ways of handling the lingering issues leading to the impeachment process of the Ondo State Deputy Governor.
“To make necessary recommendations to the party on the resolution of issues and any other matter that may come up in the course of the assignment.
“The committee has one week after its inauguration to submit its recommendations.”
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