By Adekola Afolabi

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The rancour in the Ondo State House of Assembly involving nine lawmakers believed to be loyal to the embattled former Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi has now been laid to rest.
The reconciliation occurred during a closed door meeting attended by all the 26 members of the State House of Assembly on Sunday evening with the State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at his Owo private residence.
It would be recalled that the Assembly’s crisis took a new twist following the former Deputy Governor’s defection from the ruling party, APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and later to Zenith Labour Party where he contested for the October 10, governorship election.
After Ajayi’s defection, there were moves by the State Assembly to impeach Ajayi as some members of the State Assembly signed the impeachment process of the former Deputy Governor, but the nine lawmakers refused to sign.
Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, the Chairman House Committee on Information and Orientation, Olugbenga Omole said the meeting which was at the instance of the aggrieved members of the House was attended by all the 26 members.
Omole who represents Akoko South-West Constituency 1 said the aggrieved members realised the need to work as one indivisible arm of government to accelerate the development of the state.
Also, a member representing Ondo Constituency 1 in the Assembly, Tomide Akinribido said the meeting was a regular parley of the legislative arm of government with the Governor.
He said the meeting became expedient in view of the fact that the governor has just been inaugurated for another term in office and hence the need to come up with a better working relationship between the two arms of government to further entrench good governance in the state.
On his part, former Majority Leader and lawmaker representing Akoko North West Constituency 1, Jamiu Maito, noted that the meeting was a good development as all contending issues between members have been sorted out to further smoothen the relationship between the executive and the legislature.
Mr. Maito assured that the people of the state would continue to see more of the legislators’ support for the governor such that more dividends of good governance will cut across the entire state.
The state Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa and the Chief of State to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale, also attended the meeting.