Prominent rights activist Deji Adeyanju has called for the impeachment of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State. Adeyanju emphasized that the Ondo State House of Assembly should take necessary steps to impeach Akeredolu due to his prolonged absence and reported health issues.
Governor Akeredolu has been away from Ondo State for several months, citing health reasons for his extended stay in Ibadan, Oyo State. During this period, the governor has not handed over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, leading to accusations and counter-accusations about the state of governance in his absence.
Adeyanju highlighted the need for the Ondo State House of Assembly to invoke relevant constitutional provisions to impeach Akeredolu, stating that this would be the most reasonable and legal step to ensure effective governance in the state. He urged the lawmakers to carry out their constitutional duty and investigate the governor’s health, as well as take appropriate actions for the benefit of the people of Ondo State.
“While it is normal for all mortals to sometimes fall ill, what is, however, not normal is for governance to come to a halt because one man is medically incapacitated. Sadly, this is what is currently going on in Ondo State, with accusations and counter-accusations of the Governor being incapacitated and unable to even sign official documents. Just recently, a serving commissioner in Ondo State publicly accused officials of forging the Governor’s signature!
“It will be recalled that about a decade ago, governance and economic activities came to a halt in Nigeria while President Yar-Adua was bedridden. Ironically, one of the bodies that strenuously called for the resignation of the then-president was the Nigeria Bar Association led by the now-ailing Governor Akeredolu. Like Akeredolu, Yar-Adua and his handlers, for whatever reasons best known to them, did not trust the deputy enough to hand over to him, necessitating the doctrine of necessity and an emergency constitutional amendment by the National Assembly to the effect that when a President or Governor is unable to discharge his functions after 21 days, power is automatically transmitted to the Vice President or Deputy Governor in acting capacity.
“Unfortunately, this simple Constitutional provision has not been obeyed in Ondo State, and the State, like its Governor, has been effectively left in comatose, without a head to direct its affairs. Understandably, the Governor’s appointed exco, though divided, has not been able to muster the necessary courage of Dora Akunyili of blessed memory, to invoke the necessary constitutional provisions and cause an investigation into the governor’s health, with a view to declaring him medically incapacitated.
“I am, therefore, compelled to call on the Ondo State House of Assembly to invoke the relevant constitutional provisions to carry out their sacred but urgently needed duty of impeaching the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. This is the most reasonable and legal step to take at this time, in order for the state to move forward, since the Governor has refused to resign. I pray that the members of the Ondo State House of Assembly heeds this call to duty and do what is right by the Constitution and the good people of Ondo State.”
