The Ondo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to hand over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to avert any constitutional crisis due to his health condition.
The SDP made this call in a statement issued by its state chairman, Stephen Adewale, on Thursday in Akure, the state capital.
The statement followed speculations in recent times about the ill health of Governor Akeredolu, who was reported to have been battling with leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
According to the SDP, it is better for Akeredolu to hand over to his deputy temporarily until he is fit enough to handle the affairs of the state.
The party said that the silence from the camp of the governor’s party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), about his health status was alarming and suspicious.
The SDP said that Ondo State and its friends must speak out on the uncertainty surrounding the governance of the state before it is too late.
The party said that it understands Governor Akeredolu’s health challenge and that it has been praying for his speedy recovery.
However, the party said that the state should not be left without a constitutional head in an acting capacity while he is away attending to his health.
The party said that it is disturbing that a man who once led the Nigeria Bar Association and who actively participated in denouncing an ailing head of state when the latter refused to hand over to his deputy, has now refused to do the same.
The party said that it is not asking for Akeredolu’s resignation but for him to safeguard his hard-earned reputation by handing over to his deputy in an acting capacity.
The party also called on every relevant stakeholder and patriot in the state to ensure that unnecessary and avoidable constitutional crisis in the management and functioning of the state government does not ensue.
The party said that this is not the time for silence but for genuine, exhaustive and wide-ranging conversations to save the impending storm.
”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.
”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.”
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