November 26, (THEWILL) – The absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State from office due to illness in the last five months and failure on his part to transmit power to his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, since he returned to the country in September, has been heating up the polity in the Sunshine state.
Apart from being relieved of his role as Acting Governor since September, Aiyedatiwa is also facing possible impeachment by the Ondo State House of Assembly.
Governor Akeredolu’s failing health and his inability to transmit power to Aiyedatwa are both serious issues, as Ondo seems to be on auto-pilot at the moment.
President Bola Tinubu late Friday waded into the matter and persuaded the opposing factions to embrace peace and maintain status quo.
This was as the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, pledged to carry all commissioners and officials along in handling the state’s affairs and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, resolved to halt all impeachment moves against Aiyedatiwa.
The resolutions came after nearly six hours of deliberations between the President and state officials, including members of the All Progressives Congress, who converged on the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, until late on Friday night.
The Deputy Governor who declared his decision to maintain the status quo and unite all the warring factions said, “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.
The matter of non appearance of Akeredolu in the state and the non – handing over of power to his deputy had earlier been taken to court by a civil society group, the Incorporated Trustees of Librate Foundation International. The Group has sued the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olamide Oladiji, Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and 20 members of the State Executive Council, seeking an order from the court to declare Governor Rotimi Akeredolu incapable of discharging the functions of his office.
The ex-parte application with Incorporated Trustees of Librate Foundation International, J.I Sebotimo Esq, Vincent Adodo Esq and I.I Bewaji Esq as 1-4 Applicants, sought an order of mandamus to compel all the members of State Executive Council, listed as 3rd to 22nd Respondents, to pass a resolution or move a motion supported by two-thirds majority of its members to declare the governor incapable on the ground of serious ill-health.
The legal action, according to the group, is sequel to the governor having been absent from office since May 17, 2023 till date without any particular date of his return to office in sight.
This is coming as the State Executive Council on Thursday November 16, 2023 passed a vote of confidence on the governor.
The cabinet members, in a communiqué, promised to continue to support the governor in his drive towards ensuring the development of the state.
The communiqué was signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Oladunni Odu; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Olugbenga Ale; Head of Service, Kayode Ogundele, 16 Commissioners and 12 Special Advisers.
However, the Commissioner for Energy, Mines, and Mineral Resources, Razaq Obe, as well as the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, and Cooperative, Akinwumi Sowore, did not sign the communiqué.
In the communiqué, the cabinet members disclosed that the move was taken due to what they described as the “exemplary leadership of the governor”.
They maintained that the Rotimi Akeredolu Administration in Ondo has been rewarding to the people and the state at large.
However, different groups are protesting daily and calling for the resignation of the governor.
The relationship between Akeredolu and his deputy, Aiyedatiwa, is nothing but cordial and the governor upon arrival in the country in September sacked the entire press crew of his deputy.
The Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti and other elders in Ondo State have waded into the political crisis as they appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the feud between the governor and his deputy.
Ondo elders urged President Tinubu to end “the current constitutional crisis in the state, to avoid the looming breakdown of law and order.” This was contained in a statement issued after an emergency meeting held in Akure at the instance of Pa Fasoranti on the current political logjam in the state.
Present at the meeting were traditional, religious and professional leaders, market women, the academia and other notable stakeholders.
The statement said the meeting, which lasted over four hours, called for prayers for the improved health of Governor Akeredolu and noted that his absence had caused lack of sustained good governance in the state.
The statement said: “There should be no impeachment of the governor or the deputy governor by the House of Assembly. All unelected persons should allow the three arms of government to find a lasting solution to the current crisis.The rule of law should be followed by stakeholders as enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution.”
The elders of the state also called on the leadership of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to provide the required guide to those in government as well as ensure discipline within their fold.
“Reconciliation efforts initiated by Papa Reuben Fasoranti, Oba Olu Falae, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, Chiefs Femi Aluko, Korede Duyile and Professor Olu Aderounmu, that were started two months ago and being vigorously pursued by elders/leaders, spiritual and royal fathers in the state, should be concluded with a view to allowing true rapprochement and enduring good governance thrive in the state.”
The genesis of the crisis in the state started in June 2023, as Akeredolu went on a medical vacation to Germany when he took ill and transmitted power to his deputy, Aiyedatiwa in an “acting capacity” pending his return to the country.
During his stay in Germany for treatment, Governor Akeredolu’s health was rumoured to have worsened and some powerful people in the government fingered the media crew of the deputy governor as being responsible for the rumour.
Akeredolu returned to the country in September and officially wrote to the State House of Assembly, informing it of his resumption. A copy of his letter to the lawmakers was also forwarded to Aiyedatiwa, thus relieving him of his position as acting governor.
But since his arrival in September, Akeredolu has been staying in his Ibadan, Oyo State capital’s private residence, recuperating. Four governors of South-West States last Month met with him in his private residence in Ibadan and a photograph of the visit was made available in the media.
The governors who visited Akeredolu are Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).
Tensions are running high in Ondo State as many groups and the main opposition party, the PDP are constantly protesting the governor’s absence in the state.
The groups, under the aegis of PDP Forever Initiative, threatened to occupy Governor’s Office should he (Akeredolu) fail to heed the 72-hour ultimatum.
Addressing a press conference at the PDP national secretariat in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the groups, Hon. Obande Gideon Obande, expressed worry that President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to address the lingering constitutional issue in Ondo State.
Disturbed over what they called leadership vacuum created by the absence of Akeredolu in office, the groups asked that his deputy should be fully empowered to run the affairs of the state.
While the PDP groups said they would continue to pray for Akeredolu’s quick recovery because he is human, they added that his incapacitation should not affect governance, as there is a provision for a deputy who shall discharge his duties in an acting capacity as empowered by the law.
The PDP Forever Initiative said, “We hereby call on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to resume within 72 hours or hand over power to his Deputy for effective management of Ondo State.
“We make bold to say that, if the Governor fails to resume or hand over power to his Deputy within 72 -hour, we will have no option than to occupy Ondo State Government House to press home our demand.
“The All Progressives Congress, (APC), is yet to provide the kind of leadership expected of it by Nigerians. The worst of it is the political vacuum in Ondo State where the APC leadership used in showcasing its ineptitude towards governance in the country.
“During our (PDP’s) reign in power, former President Umar Musa Yar’Adua was sick and could not transmit power to the Vice President before leaving the country; our party invoked the powers of the constitution and empowered the Vice President as the Acting President.
“It also happened in Taraba State when the late Gov Danbaba Suntai was involved in an air crash, we resolved the crisis, but the ruling APC has failed woefully in managing the political crisis in Ondo State.
“This is a sign that the APC-led Federal government is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians
“What is so difficult to call the State House of Assembly to order and ensure smooth working relationship between the Deputy Governor and the sick Governor’s family?
“We believe that because the crisis is in Yoruba land, the APC has abandoned the constitution to serve some personal interests, thereby abandoning Nigerians to their faith.
“Let it be known that this country belongs to all of us, whether PDP or APC, even Labour Party. We cannot fold our arms and watch the nation sink.
“Once upon a time, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party attempted to protest against the leadership vacuum in Ondo State, but the security agencies prevented us. We are not giving up. We are resilient in propagating good governance at all time.
“It has become ridiculous and indeed a laughing stock the activities of non-state actors who display their overbearing influence on the management of affairs of Ondo State in view of their relationship with the ailing Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
“The same people who are close to the Governor, mostly his family members, who believe that the mandate given to him is a retirement benefit to the entire family are responsible for the ugly situation in the state.
“The Governor has been around in the country, but obviously not fit enough to manage the affairs of the state.
“The question is, since the Deputy Governor is not allowed to act and the Governor has refused to resume work, who is administering the state at the moment?”
As pressure mounts on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to step down from office and attend to his fragile health, the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state has asked critics to be wary of their utterances.
In a statement, the party’s spokesperson, Alex Kalejaye, last Wednesday said the protest and violent agitations by groups demanding Akeredolu’s resignation and urging him to hand over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, should note that their desire could only lead to personal injuries.
The statement said, “The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has advised political gladiators and stakeholders to be circumspect in their utterances and actions as regards the political development in the state.
“It is imperative to urge stakeholders to pursue peace with maturity and civilized conduct. Protests and violent agitations, as being contemplated by some groups can only lead to personal injuries. We should be reminded that security agents would not condone destructive conduct under whatever pretence. We should be well guided.”
About the Author
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
