By Ken Afor
Barrister Sola Ajisafe, a lawyer and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State has provided counsel to the acting governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, cautioning him against making any changes to the State Executive Council, EXCO.
During a radio interview in Akure, the state capital on Wednesday, Ajisafe
claimed that the intention behind the proposed reshuffling of the state executive council was to undermine Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and to provide preferential treatment to his loyal followers within the government.
His words: “l heard it on good authority that the acting governor would redeploy the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu, to the Ministry of Commerce while the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, would be posted to Culture and Tourism.”
He stated that such action goes against both the 1999 constitution and the agreement made with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the peace conference held in Abuja.
According to him “Section 190 of the Constitution did not give the deputy governor the power to reshuffle the cabinet.
“The section gives the acting governor the right to act on behalf of the governor not to override the decisions of the governor. There can’t be two governors at the same time.”
“The two memos that emanated from the office of the acting governor including the freezing of the local governments and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) accounts and that the Chief of Protocol (COP) to Akeredolu are capable of undermining the office of the governor.
“These actions, and the protest by non-state actors demanding the resignation of Akeredolu showed that Aiyedaiwa wanted to succeed his boss through any means.
Ajisafe stated that following the initial meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the leaders regarding the state’s crisis, the acting governor displayed no initiative in reconciling the conflicting factions.
However, Aiyedatiwa “recruited non-state actors to protest to demand the resignation of Governor Akeredolu,” according to the party chieftain.
“These are the people who are not seen when they are needed but always come when their services are needed.
“When Owo was attacked, they were not seen. During covid 19, they were nowhere to be found.
“When herdsmen were on the prowl, they kept quiet. During the EndSARS protests in Ondo, they did not protest. They only came when they had an agenda to push.
“When they returned from Abuja the second term and Aiyedatiwa was made the Acting Governor, these people said Akeredolu was incapacitated and that he should relinquish the seat.
Ajisafe said “Section 189 of the constitution talked about permanent incapacitation, not as freely being used by these people. These are the people who are pushing an agenda capable of rocking the boat of progress in Ondo State.”
It would be recalled, Aiyedatiwa on Thursday, December 14 assumed duty as the governor of the state in acting capacity following the departure of his principal Governor Akeredolu to abroad to continue his medical treatment.
