The opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP,has asked the Ondo state House of Assembly to commence the impeachment process of governor Rotimi Akeredolu, for violating the 1999 Constitution as amended.
This call was made via Thursday statement issued by PDP spokesman Kennedy Peretei
Hear him: “The time has come for the Ondo State House of Assembly to immediately begin the impeachment process of Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, for violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. It is no longer news that Ondo state has been on auto-pilot for nearly six months, grounding all activities of the government due to the ill health of the governor.”
Recall that on Tuesday, the Ondo PDP gave Akeredolu a 24-hour ultimatum to address the people of the state and return to his office in Akure, or resign from office.
Akeredolu, since his return from his medical trip to Germany, has been running Ondo State affairs from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The Spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in the statement, said government activities had been grounded and the state on auto-pilot for nearly six months due to Akeredolu’s ill health.
According to him: “Unfortunately, rather than tell the citizens the truth, most of Akeredolu’s handlers have resorted to insulting the sensibilities of the people by making a public show of their ignorance.
“The Constitution envisaged that it is possible for a State Governor to be ill or incapacitated as it is the case with Akeredolu now and therefore made safeguards.
“Section 193(2) states expressly that “the Governor of a state shall hold regular meetings with the Deputy Governor and all Commissioners of the Government of the State for the purposes of –
a. Determine the general direction of policies of the state,” amongst other provisions.
“When was the last time Akeredolu held a State Executive Council meeting?
“It is not a crime to be ill, but that will not be reason an entire state must be brought to her knees.
“Our party wishes to urge the Governor’s aides to stop ridiculing themselves by defending the indefensible and standing logic on its head.”
In a swift reaction, the Ondo Assembly has responded to the call for the impeachment of the governor, saying the PDP should be ignored because the governor, despite managing the state’s affairs from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, is doing his constitutional duties and has not breached any aspect of the Constitution.
The state House of Assembly urged the people of the state to ignore the opposition party, noting that “it lacked knowledge of the duties of a Governor.
The Majority leader of the assembly, Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, said the governor has been performing his constitutional duties and has not breached any aspect of the Constitution.
Ogunmolasuyi said the Assembly has noted ongoing developmental projects across the state including prompt payment of salaries and clearing of backlog of salary arrears.
According to him’ the PDP is not in the know whether the State Executive Council meeting held or not.
“The Governor is doing his duties. Everything is going well in the state. We have met with the Governor and all those that want to meet with him.
“If the Governor is not doing what he is supposed to do, we will question him. He has sign all bills brought before him. What we know is that the PDP is a dead party. They cannot stipulate the duties of a Governor.”
Meanwhile,it was reported that the embattled deputy governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa, might have fled the state.
Sources said that he had relocated to Abuja since members of the state assembly kick started his impeachment process.
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