The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has approached the State House of Assembly to initiate the impeachment process of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, following his continued absence in the state since his return to the country in August.
The PDP in a statement issued by the State Publicity Secretary of the party Kennedy Peretei, said that the governor’s absence is in violation of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
This trails claims made by Doyin Odebowale, the Special Adviser on Special Duty and Strategy to the Governor that since the arrival of his principal in September he is yet to step into the state.
Odebowale explained that in order for Governor Akeredolu to manage the affairs of the South-West state, he requires a better apartment due to his ill health.
Meanwhile, the PDP reacting to the claim said that for almost six months all activities have been grounded in the South West due to ill health of the governor.
The PDP said, “The time has come for the Ondo State House of Assembly to immediately begin the impeachment process of Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
Further according to the PDP, “It is no longer news that Ondo State has been on auto-pilot for nearly six months, grounding all activities of the government due to the ill health of the governor.
“Unfortunately, rather than tell the citizens the truth, most of Akeredolu’s handlers have resorted to insulting the sensibilities of the people by making a public show of their ignorance. The handling of Akeredolu’s condition by his aides has robbed the Governor of public sympathy.
”The Constitution envisaged that, it is possible for a State Governor to be ill or incapacitated as it is the case with Akeredolu now and therefore made safeguards.
“Section 193(2) states expressly that “the overnor of a state shall hold regular meetings with the Deputy Governor and all Commissioners of the Government of the State for the purposes of determine the general direction of policies of the state” amongst other provisions.
“When was the last time Akeredolu held a State Executive Council meeting? It is not a crime to be ill, but that will not be reason an entire state must be brought to her knees.
” The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) Ondo State Chapter calls on the State Assembly to invoke sections 189(1) to cause a Medical Panel to be instituted to ascertain Akeredolu’s medical status and do the needful in the interest of the people of the state.
“Our party wishes to urge the Governor’s aides to stop ridiculing themselves by defending the indefensible and standing logic on its head.
However, in a swift response, the state House of Assembly declared that the governor had not broken any provisions of the constitution and urged the populace to disregard the opposition party because “it lacked knowledge of the duties of a Governor.”
The Majority leader of the assembly, Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, stated that the governor has been carrying out his constitutional responsibilities and has not violated any provisions.
According to Ogunmolasuyi, the Assembly has taken note of ongoing development initiatives throughout the state, such as timely salary payments and the elimination of salary arrears.
He claims that neither the PDP nor the State Executive Council know whether a meeting was held.
“The Governor is doing his duties. Everything is going on well in the state. We have met with the Governor and all those that want to meet with him.
“If the Governor is not doing what he supposed to do, we will question him. He has sign all bills brought before him. What we know is that the PDP is a dead party. They cannot stipulate the duties of a Governor.”
While the calls for the impeachment of the embattled deputy governor, Lucky Ayiedatiwa have subsided, there are claims that he had fled the state and relocated to Abuja.
According to sources, the deputy governor moved to Abuja after his confrontation with state assembly members began.
He moved to Abuja in order to thwart the assembly members’ attempts to remove him from office.
“He has to relocate to Abuja, the seat of power, to be able to scuttle all the machinations of those that are desperate to impeach him.
”He needs to be in Abuja, to meet with those that will help him out. If he stays in Akure, he would’ve been sacked since.
”His relocation to Abuja, has really paid off. You can see that the peace committee members were sympathetic to his case hence the soft landing he was given,” Vanguard quoting an aide to the governor.
It would be recalled that Dr. Odebowale has also questioned the deputy governor’s prolonged absence from the state.
According to Odebowale, those asking about the whereabouts of Governor Akeredolu should also be enquiring about the deputy governor’s disappearance.
He said, “Why are they not asking for the whereabouts of the deputy governor?. He has not been in Akure for weeks and he is not on medical leave.
“Aiyedatiwa has not been sent out of Akure on assignment. Forget about the process of impeachment and what have you. He is still the deputy governor and he has not been to that office. Why are they not asking for the whereabout of the deputy?.”
