Ondo Health Crisis: Akeredolu’s failure to transmit power to Aiyedatiwa unconstitutional – Group
Following the ill health of the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu a socio political group under the auspices of Coalition of Ondo State Concerned Citizens, has called on the governor to hand over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa to avert a constitutional crisis.
The coalition made the call on Thursday in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Prince Gboyega Oluyede and Secretary, Adeleke Adeniyi in Akure, the state capital.
Following the illness and indisposition of governor Akeredolu, the group asked him to hand over to his deputy in an acting capacity until he is fully fit.
“Since Mr Akeredolu’s return from his leave in May, he has not been seen in public or office. We demand to know “who is in charge in Ondo State right now ”
“The business of governance is retrogressing , fueling socio- political tensions in all parts of the state”
“The welfare of the good people of Ondo State is sliding abysmally into a state of uncertainty and anarchy, with unauthorized persons taking decisions that are meant to be constitutionally binding on the vast majority of the people of the state”, the group said.
The group added ” The socio economic and political loss of not having a decision maker in the state is enormous and it’s highly unacceptable to be without a head. We missed out on two important meetings recently at the instance of Mr President and another meeting of all the 36 state governors of the federation.
During each of those meetings, matters of national importance were discussed and our state were conspicuously absent at the meetings.
“In the light of this, the group asked the Governor to transmit power to the appropriate quarters and save the state from further embarrassment.
While he recuperates from his illness, we call on Governor Akeredolu to immediately hand over power to the deputy governor in an Acting capacity so as to keep the state running effectively.
“Section 191 of the 1999 Constitution as amended reads, “The Deputy Governor of a State shall hold the office of Governor of the State if the office of Governor becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity, or removal of the governor from office for any other reason in accordance with Section 188 or 189 of the Constitution”
“In the event that the governor he is unable or fails to transmit the written declaration mentioned in subsection (1) of this section within 21 days, the House of Assembly shall, by a resolution made by a simple majority of the vote of the House, mandate the Deputy Governor to perform the functions of the office of the Governor as Acting Governor until the Governor transmits a letter to the Speaker of the House of Assembly that he is now available to resume his functions as Governor”
“The despair and boldness amongst political class is an indicator that H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa needs the support of Ondo State indigenes, and security must be beefed up. Few elements in the state with the connivance of those in government circles should not destroy the work of our past heroes by turning the gstate into another theatre of war”
The Coalition called on individuals and gladiators creating political tensions in the state to desist, vowing to mobilise massively to deal with those faning the ember of discord in the state.
