Is Akeredolu’s Absence Affecting Governance in Ondo?

Fidelis David reports that the exact nature of the health challenge of the Chairman of the South West Governor’s Forum and Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is shrouded in mystery just as there is apprehension in the Sunshine state over the continued absence of Akeredolu in public.

t is no longer news that Governor OluwarotimiAkeredolu of Ondo state had been feeling under the weather. Thus, on Monday, he forwarded a letter of extension of his medical leave to the State House of Assembly.

While some believe that all public offices, the office of the governor inclusive, demand occupiers who are sound both in body and in mind, so that efficiency and proficiency will be brought to bear in the discharge of responsibilities of the office, others argued that nobody is immune to ailments, particularly like the case of Akeredolu whose health condition became obvious or developed after he became governor.

Akeredolu had embarked on a 21-day medical leave on June 7 and  was expected to resume duties on July 6, 2023 and start performing his constitutional duties. Governor Akeredolu had written to the state legislature in line with constitutional provisions to proceed on medical leave and  handed over power to his deputy, Mr Lucky Ayeditawa, to act in his stead, as demanded by the constitution.

Akeredolu was seen briefly in public shortly after he returned to the state from his 15-working days annual leave on May 1, but his ill-health continued to generate anxiety.

He was reported to have been treating an ailment said to be blood cancer (leukemia),  a cancer of the blood caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in the body.

It is a cancer of blood-forming tissues that hinders the body’s ability to fight infections.

However, receiving the latest extension letter on behalf of other lawmakers, Speaker of the State House of Assembly,  HonOlamideOladiji said the Governor’s action was in line with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

According to the letter, the state Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, would continue to act as governor until there was a written declaration to the contrary.

Oladiji, who expressed appreciation to God for the speedy recovery of the Governor, expressed optimism that he would soon resume duty.

Akeredolu in State of Extreme Incapacity

The letter of extension was received same day the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator AbdullahiAdamu, declared that the ailing Akeredolu was incapacitated and hospitalised.

Adamu who was reported to have stated this at a meeting between the national leadership of the party and APC state chairmen on Monday revealed that Akeredolu was incapacitated and currently hospitalised overseas.

“In the same vein, we regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the governor of Ondo State, who we understand has been hospitalised overseas,” Adamu said.

“We wish and pray for him for a speedy recovery,” he added.

However, a statement issued by Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, BamideleAdemola-Olateju, described the report as malicious, designed to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

The statement titled: Re: “Akeredolu in State of Extreme Incapacity, Hospitalised” reads; “The attention of Ondo State government has been drawn to a report, credited to the Chairman of the APC, Senator AbdullahiAdamu, in the 11th July, 2023. The headline, “Akeredolu in state of extreme incapacity, hospitalised”, bore a tinge of the usual mischievous, wicked and insensitive reportage, sponsored by desperate politicians.

“The Chairman of the APC in Ondo State, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, who attended the meeting, has debunked the report as untrue and totally disconnected from the statement of the Chairman at the event. The National Chairman  was indeed excited at the reports on the rate of recovery of the Governor of Ondo State, ArakunrinOluwarotimiAkeredolu, SAN, CON, and urged all those present at the meeting to pray for his quick return.

“It, therefore, smacks of mischief and unabashed abandonment of professional ethics for a reporter to present this gross misrepresentation, a mischievous twist, as news. At no time did the Chairman mention that the Governor was in a state of “extreme incapacity”. He is, evidently, not in any critical state that should warrant this clearly reprehensible conduct as he still sent a post to the Executive Council Committee platform yesterday”?

No doubt, the Nigerian Constitution is silent on how long a governor could stay away so long as there is a transfer of executive powers to the deputy governor.

Specifically, Chapter 6 part 2, section 190 of the 1999 constitution states: “Whenever the Governor transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Deputy Governor as Acting Governor”.

Meanwhile, the latest extension comes days after the 66-year-old governor assured residents of the state that he was in high spirits and have full faith in the expertise of his Doctors with a promise to return for official duties as soon as possible.

The governor, had  in a statement he personally signed last Thursday, expressed appreciation for the extraordinary outpouring of genuine affection, prayers and solidarity from the people.

The statement reads: “I pen this message with a heart overflowing with immense gratitude and deep appreciation. Your dedication, understanding, ceaseless prayers  and messages of goodwill during my journey to recovery have been nothing short of a soothing balm for my soul. Your unwavering support and genuine affection have sustained my determination to renewed vigor and, most importantly, to continue serving you, the good people of Ondo State.

“I am profoundly grateful to our esteemed President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and his team, as well as all political party leaders, my brother Governors, the State Executive Council, and the members of the State House of Assembly for their unwavering support”.

The Governor noted that the collective strength and solidarity of the people have uplifted his spirit and reaffirmed his commitment to the shared vision for progress and development.

“While I remain on the path to recovery, I eagerly await the moment when I will stand among you once again. Rest assured, I am in high spirits and have full faith in the expertise of my doctors. I will return  as soon as they deem it expedient.

“My dear people, once again, your prayers, support, and the rejuvenating elixir of goodwill you have bestowed upon me have fortified my resolve. I am resolute in my dedication to serving you and working tirelessly for the betterment of our beloved Ondo State”, Akeredolu added.

Is  Governance Paralysed in Ondo Due to Akeredolu’s Absence?

Another argument among residents of Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole is if governance in the sunshine state has been paralysed due to Akeredolu’s absence.

The  State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party on its part knocked the administration of Governor RotimiAkeredolu saying his absence had put a stop to governance in the state.

Ondo PDP,  in a statement issued on Sunday by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, said many aides of the governor had left governance for politics ahead of the next year’s governorship election.

The statement read, “It is a known fact that, around October 2024, the governorship election will hold in Ondo State. While the Independent National Electoral Commission is yet to officially release a timetable for the election, political parties and gladiators who have eyes on Alagbaka Government House come February 24, 2025, are not leaving anything to chance. The health status of Governor OluwarotimiAkeredolu (SAN) shrouded as it were, in secrecy appears to be the launch pad for this epic battle.

“The people of Ondo State are completely in the dark as to the exact nature of Mr Governor’s health challenge, or how soon he will resume his official duties. In the letter addressed to the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, the Governor was reported to have proceeded on a 21-day medical vacation, to resume on 6th July, 2023. But on the expected date of resumption, the Commissioner of Information, BamideleAdemolaOlateju issued a statement to the effect that, Governor Akeredolu was in high spirits but will return on a date determined by his doctors in Germany. If another letter has been sent to the State Assembly to extend the tenure of Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa, as Acting Governor, it is not yet in the public domain.

“Perhaps, all these would have been normal, if the absence of the governor had not stagnated government business in the state. The tower of Babel has literally descended on the All Progressives Congress family and the government, as individuals and groups perch precariously on a balance of probabilities driven by the myth of uncertainty, in what has been famously described by Mrs Betty Akeredolu as “peradventure”.

“It is not unexpected that, the sudden absence of the enormous powers of a sitting governor from the arena in a pre-election year will precipitate this level of cacophony within a political family, what is strange is the extent and the drawback that has befallen government activities.

“As at the last count, a number of aspirants have indicated their willingness to contest the 2024 gubernatorial election on the platform of APC. No doubt, the majority of them are pretenders or expecting some godfathers to endorse them or ride on the back of a non-existent power of incumbency to square up with the major opposition party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But at the end of these hostilities occasioned by Akeredolu’s absence, picking up the pieces will be a tall order. The same people who were abandoned in the course of the supremacy battle will have the last say. And this period, wasted in a needless show of force and cluelessness will count against the APC government.

“Some state governments have taken proactive measures to alleviate the suffering of their citizens. Governor AgbuKefas of Taraba State did not only declare free education for primary and secondary schools, but he also reduced school fees in government-owned University by 50%.

What has been the response from the Ondo State government to the harsh economic realities in the state? Will the internal battles fought within the government suffice as an excuse for this lackluster performance? Will it be the excuse for the insensitivity of the government to the suffering of the people?

“More than ever before, parents most of whom have abandoned their cars due to the high cost of fuel are yearning for the return of free school shuttle buses. Students trek long distances to and from school because they cannot afford taxi fares. The tears in the eyes of both parents and students flow everyday accusingly at a regime that is totally lacking in the human face

“For 2024, what will count is the APC scorecard. There is a limit to which people can be taken for a ride. In the words of Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican musician ” You can fool some people sometimes, but you cannot fool all the people all the time”. 2024 will not be business as usual. It is a battle for the emancipation of the people from make belief prosperity.”

Politicising Akeredolu’s ill-health

On its part, the State chapter of the Young Peoples Party (YPP)  expressed its displeasure over the situation of the state government following the absence of Govenor.

The YPP alleged that some people in the government were capitalising on the health condition of the governor to slow down the pace of governance.

YPP, in a statement  by its Publicity Secretary, MrGoke Williams, lamented that governance was suffering in the state in Akeredolu’s absence, while it warned politicians to stop politicising the governor’s ill-health and allow government to run effectively.

The  party claimed  that some internal wranglings within the machinery of government are responsible for the inability of the state to respond appropriately to the impact of the fuel subsidy removal, that has made life tough for the people.

“While other states have responded appropriately with policy communication and execution, Ondo State is yet to find its voice or make known any intention or plan to alleviate the immediate impact of the fuel subsidy removal. We have cause to believe that governance is on recess, as our health facilities have suffered a major decline, while teachers in some of our tertiary institutions are being owed months of salaries and allowances.

“As a party, we have cause to believe that dirty politics is currently being played by factions in government and if urgent action is not taken, it may completely ground the wheels of governance in the state.”

Reacting, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Ade Adetimehin, disagreed with the Young Peoples Party (YPP), insisting there were no hitches in the running of the government in the state.

He said: “They should go and do their findings very well; there is no hitch in the running of the government. We all know that Governor Akeredolu has handed over to Aiyedatiwa before going and he (acting govenor) is performing his duties. I believe the YPP are talking just to be heard that they exist, but they got this wrong because there is no division anywhere in the government”.