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…Hand over to your deputy to avert constitutional crisis, SDP tells Akeredolu

….Party prays for his speedy recovery

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Fear of imminent sack has gripped commissioners and other members of the Ondo state Executive Council, following it’s polarisation ahead of next year’s election and over the incapacitation of governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Reliable government source told Vanguard in Akure, the state capital, that the governor has made up his mind to dissolve the cabinet on return from his medical treatment abroad.

Governor Akeredolu, left Nigeria a week ago for medical treatment abroad and he’s expected back in the next two weeks, according to vanguard findings.

A source said that ” the only way out now is to dissolve the state executive council because there is no more synergy. It has been polarized by the ambition of members.

” Members have pitched their tents with the members that have showed interest in succeeding the governor, while others are still loyal and praying for the safe return of the governor from his medical trip.

” The ambition of some council members have worsen the situation. They’ve decided to use the present situation of the governors incapacitation and absence to lobby other council members to their side.

” It’s rather unfortunate that in politics there is no permanent friends but permanent interest. They’re not even concerned about the health of their principal.

” It is how to succeed him that they’re now after not that he should be back hale and hearty.

” Many of the EXCO members have abandoned office, they’ve been engaging in nurctunal political meeting within and outside the state.

“ Many of those who were believed to be loyal to the governor have reportedly shifted ground for fear of the unknown and to be relevant in the next dispensation.

“Those that have shifted ground believe that the governor would not be able to continue in office because of his sickness and may resign.

” They’re playing God. But the governor will soon return by the grace of God. Their fate would be decided when he comes back.

Vanguard was informed that some notable leaders in the ruling party have asked the governor to dissolve the cabinet because of the conspiracy and it’s polarisation occasioned by the governorship ambitions of some of the members.

The party leadership in the state have reportedly supported the dissolution to bring sanity to governance in the state.

Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party in the state, has asked Akeredolu to hand over to his deputy in an acting capacity until he is fit and capable of handling state matters.

Recall that the party in the state, had recently raised concern over the secrecy in the health conditions of the governor.

It described the silence from the governor’s camp and the party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State as concerning and alarming.

The party’s state chairman, Stephen Adewale, in a statement issued in Akure, the state capital, implored the governor “to safeguard his hard-earned reputation by handing over to his deputy in an acting capacity until he is capable of handling the state’s business.

 Adewale said that ” This is a duty and responsibility that Governor Akeredolu owes to himself, his party members, his family, and the good people of Ondo State.

The statement reads that ” Ondo State and Ondo State friends must speak out on the increased level of uncertainty that hovered around the governance of our dear Sunshine State before it is too late.

“What began as a candlelight blaze is quickly snowballing into a sizable forest fire.

“And if we do not act quickly, history will not be kind to all of us who knew the incredible power of voice but chose silence.

“The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State understands Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s health condition, for which we have been praying for a speedy recovery.

“However, the state should not and cannot be left without a constitutional head in an acting capacity while he is away attending to his health.

 “As we write this, our dear governor has refused to hand over to his deputy in an acting capacity while his whereabouts remain unknown.

” In the past seven days, President Tinubu has met with the APC Governors’ Forum twice.

” During each of those meetings, matters of national importance were discussed.

 “Nearly all the governors were in attendance, and those who could not make it had their deputies fill in for them.

 ” The only state that was conspicuously missing in terms of representation at the two meetings is our dear Ondo State.

” While he recuperates, therefore, we call on Governor Akeredolu to immediately hand over to constitutionally delegate power to the deputy in Acting capacity so as to keep the state running effectively.

 “And if he is strong enough to preside over the affairs of the state as his people claimed, then it is well past time for Governor Akeredolu to show up and prove the doubting Thomases wrong.

 “We also call on every relevant stakeholder and patriots in the state to ensure that unnecessary and avoidable constitutional crisis in the management and functioning of the State Government did not ensue.

 “This is not the time for them to hide in their cocoon of imperturbability.

” This is not the time for the “Governor is getting better and everything is going on smoothly in the Ondo State” nonsense spewed by APC apologists and many politicians who are abetting the governor to shirk his constitutional responsibility.

 “Unknown to these praise singers and those who have chosen silence over talking, no one suffers adversity alone and misery often seeks new neighbourhoods to occupy.

“No matter how these silent stakeholders in Ondo might feel, we will all be touched in varying degrees should this issue be allowed to deteriorate.

 “A prolonged uncertainty over the administration of Ondo State will cost the state untoward setback.

 “There is no doubt about this.And that is why silence is dangerous now.

” Ondo State is in a rare moment in time when only genuine, exhaustive, and wide-ranging conversations can save the impending storm.

“This is the time to start the constitutional conversations.

Adewale added that ” It is disturbing that a man who once sat atop the highest chair at the Nigeria Bar Association, who actively participated in denouncing an ailing head of state when the latter refused to hand over to his deputy, and who has devoted his entire life to defending the constitution of the land would blatantly and deliberately flout that very constitution.