By Ken Afor
The continued alleged absence of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, since his return from Germany in August has sparked unrest by some youths who stormed the state secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Akure, the state capital on Monday.
It would be recalled on Wednesday, August 30, Governor Akeredolu reportedly arrived in the country after three months medical leave in Germany and since then there is perhaps no known public engagement of the governor.
Although, it was gathered that the governor few days after his arrival had some official engagements at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State prior to his meeting with his close aides on the day of his arrival.
Given his unknown whereabouts, some youths on Monday took to the secretariat of the PDP to protest the absence of the state governor.
According to reports, the youths were protesting about “Akeredolu’s health status and his absence from the state.”
There was a heavy presence of personnel of the Department of State Services, DSS, and the police to maintain law and order within the secretariat.
Ondo State, since the arrival of Governor Akeredolu, has been in the news following the indictment of the deputy governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa by members of the State House of Assembly.
Hon. Aiyedatiwa was accused of allegedly diverting the sum of N300 million from the palliative fund to purchase a Service Utility Vehicle (SUV) without the consent of his principal while he was in Germany.
The allegation was however denied by the deputy.
Lawmakers in the state further went on to initiate an impeachment proceeding against the deputy governor but it did not sail through after the High Court in Abuja issued an injunction preventing the lawmakers from going ahead with the impeachment.
The last effort from the lawmakers after insisting that the impeachment must go ahead was to direct the State Chief Judge, Justice Ayedun Olusegun Odusola, to constitute a 7-member panel to investigate 14 allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor within seven days.
The Chief Judge in response objected to the directive citing an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining him from setting up the panel.
