Resume or transfer power to your deputy’ – Coalition tells Ondo Gov Akeredolu

Ondo State’s Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been urged by the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Democracy to either take back control of the state’s government immediately or hand over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The Convener of the group, Dr Tunji Asaolu, while addressing a news conference on Thursday in Abuja, voiced alarm over Akeredolu’s protracted absence from Ondo State.

Asaolu sent a plea to all the proper authorities to make sure that Akeredolu’s transition of authority to his deputy went off without a hitch.

He mentioned that it has been weeks since the governor returned from receiving medical care abroad and has yet to start his duties in the state.

The Coalition said that ineffective leadership is a crisis the state cannot afford and called for immediate action to address the issue.

While they are praying hard for God to fully restore Akeredolu’s good health and show him mercy, Asaolu said that the state’s ability to rule, make sound decisions, and run efficiently during his absence is cause for grave concern.

He emphasized that the Constitution’s Sections 189, 190, and 191 were written with the goal of preventing a power vacuum.

Asaolu emphasized that the absence of the governor for such an extended period creates a governance vacuum that makes it difficult to run Ondo State efficiently.

For its part, the Coalition said, “We urge Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to prioritize the needs of the people and to resume his responsibilities without further delay or transfer power to his Deputy.” We can’t afford to have ineffective leadership in our state, so we need quick action to fix this.

It is equally upsetting that the Deputy Governor cannot fulfill his constitutional responsibilities in Governor Akeredolu’s absence due to obvious political intervention by some people who were not elected by the decent people of Ondo State. The people are familiar with the Governor and his deputy, not some shadowy entity calling itself a “cabal.”

We strongly object to any efforts by political opportunists to create tension between the governor and his deputy for the purpose of seizing power for themselves.

We’d want to remind everyone involved that the Constitution gives the governor’s lieutenant the authority to make decisions in his or her absence. Our democratic system is undermined by the political maneuvering that prevents this. In times of difficulty, Ondo State requires leaders who will not waver.