"We want to make it clear that the resolution of the crisis in the House of Assembly lies with the Governor in acceding to our request", the statement read.
The aggrieved All Progressives Congress (APC), lawmakers in Ekiti State have insisted that Governor Ayodele Fayose should abide by the status quo agreements reached together on November 11, 2014, before making any peace deal.
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has been rocked by dramatic political maneuvers, including repeated attempts to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose. Governor Fayose has lead efforts to suppress opposition voters throughout the State during the gubernatorial, presidential, and State elections.
In a statement to journalists after a closed-door meeting between Fayose and Ekiti lawmakers in Akure, Ondo State, the former Speaker of the Assembly Adewale Omirin said “the lawmakers were ready to return if the Governor also provides them the atmosphere [for safe assembly].”
The statement, signed by Omirin's Special Adviser, Wole Olujobi, noted that the status quo means restoring all the APC’s principal officers to their positions and all aides of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, including those of other principal officers.
"While the Governor emphasized the status of lawmakers salaries and other entitlements, the lawmakers insisted on the return to the status quo as at November 11, 2014.
"That means restoring all the principal officers to their positions and all aides of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, including those of other principal officers should be restored to their positions".
The statement added that the aggrieved Ekiti State Assembly lawmakers were ready to return to their jobs, but not until Governor Fayose provides them an atmosphere for that possibility and also clear the Assembly of thugs.
"They asked the Governor to clear the House of Assembly of thugs and create conditions that would make them do their jobs without any security threats.
"They insisted that restoring the security aides of the principal officers and opening the Assembly for resumption of their legal duties should be the starting point for the restoration of peace", it added.
While adding that the lawmakers' position is already clear on the status quo, the statement further revealed that the Governor might be adamant by only accepting to pay their entitlements and shunning other requests.
"Fayose said that he might have difficulty in resolving the return to the status quo because the matter was already in court,” a source told SaharaReporters.
"We want to make it clear that the resolution of the crisis in the House of Assembly lies with the Governor in acceding to our request", it read.
The secret meeting between Governor Fayose and Ekiti State lawmakers resulted in deadlock. All parties to the meeting refused to speak publically about the meeting agenda items and whether a future meeting is scheduled.