BY TIMOTHY AGBOR
The ruling All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has revealed that the ailing state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has not been allowed to leave Ibadan, Oyo State, where he has been recuperating after his return from Germany where he had traveled to seek medical care.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Director, Media and Publicity of Ondo APC, Steve Otaloro, while speaking on a radio programme monitored by The Point.
He flayed the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party in the state for allegedly sensationalizing the governor’s absence in Ondo, adding that it was not true that the people of the state were longing to see Akeredolu.
Otaloro also debunked allegations by the main opposition that Akeredolu’s wife and his son have been calling the shots in the circle of power in the state.
“Why is it that suddenly, the PDP people are coming up with all these lies? The wife of the governor has nothing to do with governance in the state. Of course, his son is one of the appointees, it is not true he has been calling the shots.
“On the question of the people of Ondo wanting to see the governor, how many citizens are even privileged to see any governor? These are just the words of the opposition and they have their reason for going that route. The opposition in the state has been decimated by our political party and most of their members have been coming to our party in torrent since the last presidential election and suddenly they woke up and started behaving sorry. You have to be constructive when you are issuing out all these press statements and embarking on demonstration,” Otaloro fired at the PDP.
He maintained that, “there is no agitation in Ondo State that the people are longing to see Mr. Governor. They are wise and they are very much aware he is still recuperating. They are not in a hurry; it is always the opposition that is causing unnecessary chaos.
“The issues are that, has the governor been forthcoming in his constitutional duties aside from his absence in the state capital? Are the government officials up and doing their duties? These are the issues that we should be discussing. Anyone that is sick is not expected to be at his best in the office. Nigerians and Ondo State citizens are aware of this and they are being empathetic. It is only the opposition who are being sponsored that are creating unnecessary chaos. Why are they after Akeredolu’s life for God’s sake?” Otaloro stated.
On the state of health of Akeredolu, Otaloro pointed out that, “the truth is that he (Akeredolu) is not fully fit 100 percent. His doctors still want him for some rest. When he returned, you need to see the number of people who trooped in to greet him. Imagine if it was in Akure. People even came from Akure to Ibadan to pay homage to him.”
Debunking that governance has taken a flight in the state, the APC mouthpiece said, “Things are working in Ondo State. The only missing point is that the governor is not physically present.”
While denying rift between the state deputy governor and Akeredolu, Otaloro stated, “The deputy governor and Mr. Governor have been having a fantastic relationship. He did fantastically well when the governor was not around. We are talking to both underground. We are trying to be unbiased between Mr. Governor and Deputy. We want an amicable settlement if it is possible.”
On when the people of the state should be expecting to see Akeredolu, he said, “It has to do with advice of his doctors. Akederolu is still recuperating.”
Earlier, the Ondo PDP Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Perettei asked Akeredolu to either return to Ondo Government House to recover fully or hand over to his deputy and head to Germany for more treatment.
Perettei said, “If he knows he cannot resume, let him resign or hand over to his deputy. Since his absence, nothing is working in Ondo and the State Executive Council cannot hold meetings. We don’t have local government administration. He should hand it over to his deputy if he wants rest. He can’t stay in Ibadan to recuperate.”
In a move to douse tension on the state, the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and members of the Reconciliation Committee of the party, met with a delegation of aggrieved lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly over the planned move to impeach Aiyedatiwa.
The delegation, which arrived at the APC national secretariat at about 1.25 p.m. in a large convoy, was accompanied by stern-looking security operatives.
The development comes eight days after Ganduje established the committee to resolve the political impasse between the warring parties.
Among other things, the committee was tasked to interface and engage with all contending partners to gather facts and circumstances surrounding the lingering impeachment process of the Ondo State deputy governor; advise the party on the most amicable ways of handling the lingering issues, and make necessary recommendations to the Party on resolution of issues and any other matter that may come up in the course of the assignment.
Members of the Aminu Masari-led committee included the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Benue politician, Senator Jack Tilley Gyado; immediate past Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Tanko Al-Makura; former Governor of Ebonyi state, Martin Elechi and ex-Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar.
Meanwhile, after the meeting, the leadership of the state parliament announced the suspension of the impeachment process against Aiyedatiwa.
Addressing journalists after the meeting in Abuja, Ganduje, and Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, confirmed the development.
Akeredolu’s absence jeopardizing good governance, group alleges
Meanwhile, a group, the Ondo State Consciousness Movement has condemned the continued absence of governor Akeredolu from office, and the prolonged disagreement between him and Aiyedatiwa.
The group also described as a proxy war that is disrupting the lives of the people of Ondo State, the recent move by the Ondo State House of Assembly to impeach Aiyedatiwa; while also condemning the sealing of the People’s Democratic Party’s secretariat in the state over a planned protest by some youths.
The OSCM made the development known on Tuesday in a statement by its chairman, Shalom Olaseni.
Olaseni said, “The Ondo State Consciousness Movement rises with stern resolve to condemn the actions of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his agents for interfering with the constitutional rights of the people to peaceful assembly and protest against perceived societal wrongs. The recent events unfolding in Ondo State have plunged the state into a grave crisis, jeopardizing good governance and the well-being of its citizens.
“The Ondo State House of Assembly’s recent attempt to impeach Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, followed by the swift suspension of the impeachment proceedings through a Federal High Court order, is nothing short of a proxy war that is disrupting the lives of the people. While the political power tussle rages on, the state is left to suffer as resources and energy that should be directed toward development are squandered on internal strife.
“It is evident that Governor Akeredolu’s prolonged absence from his office, allegedly due to a medical hiatus, has brought governance to a near standstill. During this time, Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stepped into the breach and demonstrated his competence in managing the state’s affairs effectively and fairly. His actions, widely acclaimed by many, have been overshadowed by a vindictive agenda against him, with accusations of disloyalty to the governor.
“The consequences of this ongoing power struggle have been felt throughout the state. The Deputy Governor’s meteoric rise to prominence has come at the cost of his relationship with the governor and others within the cabinet. The state is now paying the price for these internal conflicts as governance remains stagnant, and the people bear the brunt of it.”
While noting the need for authorities to respect the Ondo people’s constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and protests, the group urged the governor, his deputy, and the State Assembly to resolve the prolonged internal crisis.
“Furthermore, we strongly condemn the recent actions by the Department of State Services and the Police Personnel, who sealed off the Ondo State PDP secretariat in reaction to the party’s youth protesting the governor’s prolonged absence from office without just cause. This heavy-handed response to a peaceful demonstration infringes upon the fundamental rights of citizens and undermines the principles of democracy.
“The Ondo State Consciousness Movement urges Governor Akeredolu to prioritize the welfare of the people above personal conflicts. We call on him to return to his duties and resume the governance of the state without further delay. The people of Ondo State deserve effective leadership, not political vendettas.
“We reiterate our condemnation of the interference with constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and protest and the protracted governance crisis in Ondo State. The implications of these actions are severe, undermining the principles of democracy, and causing untold suffering to the people of Ondo State. The time for a resolution is long overdue, and we implore all parties involved to put the welfare of the state and its citizens first,” Olaseni added.