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“We shall never change our political leaders until we change the people who elect them.”
—Mark Skousen
By Daniel Kanu
The prolonged absence of Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu from the state and his continued seclusion from the public is no longer news, but what is news now is the renewed controversy and deep concern in the Sun Shine state.
Akeredolu officially resumed duties in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in the first week of September after returning from a three-month medical leave in Germany.
But it was gathered that since then he has not set foot in Ondo State.
He has also not addressed the people of the state or seen anywhere in public, not even during visits by state officials to his residence in Ibadan, from where he is dishing out instructions to pilot affairs of the state.
While the governor has remained out of public glare, leaving the state, perhaps ruddderless, a political drama was underway in the state as the House of Assembly launched a bid to remove his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for alleged disloyalty to his boss.
The lawmakers in the upper week suspended the move against the move after the state’s Chief Judge, Olusegun Odusola, declined their request to set up a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Aiyedatiwa by the lawmakers.
Odusola’s decision was based on an order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja restraining him from setting up the panel until the court had determined a suit filed by Aiyedatiwa against the move to remove him from office.
During the week, following anger build-up, there was demonstrations also in the state as some aggrieved residents of the state staged protest against Akeredolu’s continued absence.
The protesters, including the opposition political parties, particularly the People’s Democratic Party is asking the governor to come out or resign.
Expectedly, the PDP, the leading opposition party in the state, has asked the governor to return to Akure, the state capital, and discharge his responsibilities to the people, failure to do so would amount to either his resignation or impeachment.
The PDP said that the governor should “come out” or resign honourably, even as it attacked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for condoning the seclusion of the governor,
For critics, the ruling party seems to be applying every logic to support what they described as the “unconstitutional action of Governor Akeredolu’’ to remain in office.
Some commentators have queried the absence of the governor, as well as decrying the action of keeping governance in the state in abeyance despite claims that Akeredolu is still in-charge.
As noted by the PDP spokesperson in the state, Comrade Kennedy Peretei, “the governor has been absent from his duty post since April this year, yet they are comfortable with the total collapse of governance in the state.”
Speaking in the same vein, a socio-political group in the state, Ondo Redemption Front (ORF), called on Akeredolu to address the state or resign from office if he is not fit to govern the state.
The group had noted: “It is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf, the state of comatose that Ondo State has found herself in recent times.
“Governance has suddenly taken flight, leaving the people without leadership, direction or representation in all forms.”
Observers say that the state is on auto pilot, with less of governance, but with crude politics in abundance.
But the ruling party insisted that there was no cause for alarm, while warning the opposition not to instigate crisis in the state which will create political instability for good governance ahead of the governorship election slated for next year.
The APC government in the state said that as a constitutional right the governor can operate from anywhere to govern the state.
Of course, the Constitution envisaged that it is possible for a state governor to be ill and, therefore, made some safeguards.
Section 193 (2) states expressly that “the governor of a state shall hold regular meetings with the deputy governor and all commissioners of the government of the state for the purposes of; (a) Determine the general direction of policies of the state’ amongst other provisions”.
The pertinent question that may be asked is: when was the last time Akeredolu held State Executive Council meeting in Ondo?
It is not a crime to be ill, but what is worrisome is when an entire state is about to be brought to her knees using legal technicalities.
At the end it is the state that will be denied of quality governance, while hangers-on will have a field day in feeding fat.
Can Ondo State legislators invoke Section 189 (1) of the Constitution to institute a medical panel to ascertain Akeredolu’s medical status?
That, of course, is a mission impossible given the total loyalty of the legislature to the Executive, who calls the shot, and dispenses patronage.
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu was born on July 21, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State.
Aketi as he is fondly called by friends and admirers started his primary school education at Government School Owo before proceeding to Aquainas College Akure in 1968. He later proceeded to Loyola College, Ibadan in 1969 to complete his secondary school education.
Oluwarotimi was admitted into the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 1974 . He obtained his LLB degree in 1977 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for his B.L in 1978.
He was at a time Nigeria Bar Association chairman.
