By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
A group, concerned youths and citizens of Ondo State has called on the state embattled Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Ayeidatiwa, to respond to the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him by the State House of Assembly.
The group which stormed theS tate House of Assembly yesterday in their large numbers in a peaceful protest said they don’t want the relative peace being enjoyed in the State to be destabilized.
The lawmakers had this week served the Deputy Governor a letter of gross misconduct challenging him to respond within the stipulated time.
The youths carried placards with different inscriptions such as “Corruption must stop”, “Go and defend yourself”, “we want peace in Ondo State” among others and chanted solidarity songs.
While speaking with newsmen, the leader of the group, Ojo Eni-afe said the highly exalted office of the Deputy Governor should not be a tool for ridicule.
Eni-afe appealed to the Deputy Governor, to prove his innocence by responding to all allegations of gross misconducts levelled against him, noting that as concerned people, they do not want crisis in the state.
He equally tasked the House of Assembly to carry its Constitutional duties with sincerity.
“There are people from other parts of the State who resides in Ilaje and are here to be a part of the protest. We are upset because the Deputy Governor, who is being alleged of several allegations which he is supposed to clear had decided to put the state in jeopardy.
“If resources were given to an indigene of Ilaje local government who is the Deputy Governor, expected to do the right thing and failed to do it, such person must be held accountable, all he has to do now is to defend the allegations against him or bow out honourably.
“We can no longer continue with a lackadaisical governance, we want a democratic system that will work for the people, as dividends of democracy is what everyone has been yearning for. One of our demands is that Ayedatiwa must stop the media trial, he should also stop an attempt to blackmail the legislative arm of government through a caricature injunction.
“He should face due process, his actions are questionable. We are not being sponsored by anyone, we are just doing what is right and just, we are only against an action that can snowball into crisis and we don’t want crisis.”
They described peace as a major tool for development, stressing that they want peace and not violence in Ondo State.
