…Urge Governor Not To Travel For Medical Treatment
Loyalists of ailing Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu have rejected the intervention of President Bola Tinubu in the political crisis rocking the state.
There have been several divergent reports on the outcome of the meeting of President Tinubu with the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, members of the Ondo State House of Assembly and other stakeholders over the lingering political crisis in the state.
President Tinubu had met with the leadership of the Assembly and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state, at the State House, Abuja, late at night on Friday, in a bid to resolve the crisis.
Credible sources told QUEST TIMES that the president told the stakeholders that while Akeredolu should remain the governor, Aiyedatiwa should be allowed to remain as the Deputy Governor while the Assembly should refrain from any impeachment moves.
It was also gathered that the president asked Governor Akeredolu to proceed abroad on another medical vacation in order to have a comprehensive treatment instead of staying in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital where he has been since early September without stepping into Akure.
If Akeredolu agrees and decides to go, he can then write a letter to the Assembly transmitting power to Aiyedatiwa to function as acting governor pending his return.
However, a former member of the House of Representatives who is a major stakeholder in Ondo APC said loyalists of Akeredolu are kicking against the president’s directive because they believe Aiyedatiwa cannot be trusted again given what has transpired in the past.
They are also claiming that Aiyedatiwa, as acting governor will use the resources of the state to advance his political interests ahead of the governorship election slated for November 16, 2024.
“Right now, Akeredolu’s loyalists are prevailing on the governor not to accept the directive. They believe Aiyedatiwa cannot be trusted with power again. They said even if he agrees to travel abroad, he shouldn’t transmit power to Aiyedatiwa, whom many perceive as a power-hungry deputy”.
” Clearly, there is apprehension in the state owing to the Governor’s absence. His aides keep bringing signed documents from Ibadan, claiming the governor signed it but the loyalists of the deputy governor are criminals some of those documents are not from the governor and that his signature may have been forged”.
” There is also division in the Assembly right now as some of the lawmakers who were hitherto sympathetic to Akeredolu’s cause are now fed up and want power to be transmitted to the deputy as the state is fast degenerating into anarchy”.
Our correspondent contacted Dr. Doyin Odebowale, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Akeredolu on Special Duties and Strategies but he declined to speak on the issue.