In a move to restore political stability in Ondo State, President Bola Tinubu has successfully brokered a peace agreement between factions loyal to the Executive Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The President met with representatives of both factions, as well as federal and state lawmakers, officials of the state’s chapter of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC), and other stakeholders at the State House in Abuja.

After marathon negotiations, the President advised all parties to embrace peace and commit to working together to move the state forward.

As a result of the agreement, Governor Akeredolu will remain Chief Executive of the State, Aiyedatiwa will remain Deputy Governor, and members of the State Executive Council will continue their respective duties. The leadership of the State’s House of Assembly and the APC Chapter in Ondo State will also remain in place.

In a statement, Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa pledged to work with all stakeholders to bring the “dividend of democracy” to the people of Ondo State.

“I want to say that I pledge to all of you that I embrace every one of you. I put behind all that has happened before now. I’ve let go and also let God, just as the President has advised us,” Aiyedatiwa said.

“And I want to say that with no offence, no guile in my mind whatsoever. All that has happened is politics. Impeachment is part of politics. If you survive it, it is also politics. It has come. I’ve survived it, and every other thing is in the past.”

He also called on all members of the State Executive Council to rally around the Governor and himself to bring good governance to Ondo State.

“All the Executive Council members, I want to plead with all of you to cooperate with me, with the Governor, so that we can bring the dividend of democracy to our people,” Aiyedatiwa said.

“We should respect one another regarding the offices we occupy and our age differences. So, it’s going to be mutual respect.”

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide, also welcomed the peace agreement, saying that it will bring an end to the political crisis in the state.

“Our resolution is that one, we shall embrace peace. Secondly, there would be no more dissolution of the cabinet, and the Deputy Governor would maintain the status quo as far as the House of Assembly leadership is concerned,” Olamide said.

“We will maintain the status quo as far as the party leadership in the state is concerned and maintain the status quo as far as the leadership of the State House of Assembly is concerned. Thank you, Mr. President.”

The Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, also expressed gratitude to the President for his intervention.

“Our Father, the President, has taken the trouble to settle our rancour in Ondo State. We owe you all the gratitude, Sir. We will not disappoint you. We have taken every word you said. And we are going home as one united family under the party, APC,” Odu said.

Ondo State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin, also expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting.

“Today is my happiest moment. And I know sanity has come to Ondo State. So, on behalf of the teeming supporters of our party in the state, we appreciate our leader, Mr. President,” Adetimehin said.

“PDP has crumbled in the state; virtually, they decamp every day. The only problem we have is the one you have solved for us today. And that problem has been resolved permanently,” Adetimehin stated.