One of the members of the National Assembly from Ondo State, Abiola Makinde, has cautioned his colleagues in the House of Representatives to stop blackmailing Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. 

Mr Makinde, who spoke in a statement on Saturday, said federal lawmakers from the state were hiding under the death of former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, to attack Mr Aiyedatiwa. 

“If these lawmakers are scared of the popularity of the governor and how it could affect their own chances of getting re-elected in 2027, blackmailing the governor is not the best tactic. 

“Aiyedatiwa is a man of peace who has demonstrated that he wants to work with everyone. Let my colleagues approach the governor and negotiate with him instead of blackmailing him,” he said in the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette. 

Mr Makinde’s attack on his colleagues in the National Assembly came after an open letter was written to President Bola Tinubu, accusing Mr Aiyedatiwa of creating the crisis in the Ondo chapter of the governing All Progressives Congress.

In the letter issued in Abuja, signed by the six lawmakers from the state, Mr Aiyedatiwa was also accused of exhibiting disdain for his former boss, Mr Akeredolu, by associating with the late governor’s political enemies. 

The six lawmakers include Adesida Abiodun Cornelius (Akure North/South), Timehin Adelegbe (Owo/Ose), Festus Ayodele (Ileoluji-Okeigbo/Odigbo), Ojogo Donald (Ilaje/Ese-Odo), Odimayo Okunjimi (Okitipupa/Irele), and Adegboyega Adefarati (Akoko South West/South East).

Mr Makinde, representing Ondo East/West Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, said the six lawmakers were to blame if any crisis occurs in the ruling party rather than blaming Mr Aiyedatiwa, who he said had been uniting the party members and executive since he took over reign of power. 

He wondered why his colleagues in the National Assembly would suddenly wake up to protect the former governor, whom he alleged they abandoned on his sick bed before he died. 

“It is laughable that these lawmakers would claim that there is no unity in the party when they are the ones creating fake crises through false narratives having become threatened by the rising popularity of the governor ahead of the coming election.

“Since the death of the former governor, this caucus (lawmakers) has not deemed it fit to pay a condolence visit to his family, but yet they claim to now love him in death more than when he was alive.

“What was the role of the caucus during the inglorious days of thick politics that nearly brought down our state last year? How many letters did we write to the President to save the state from those who deliberately clogged it,” he queried. 

The Gazette reports that the development is coming ahead of the governorship election scheduled for November 16. 

About 10 political aspirants have shown interest in the governorship race within the All Progressives Congress while the party has slated April for its primary election as the gladiators jostle for the party’s ticket.