Some stakeholders in Ondo State have expressed displeasure over the resolution to resolve the crisis rocking the state, following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu
President Tinubu met with top government officials, including the Deputy Governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Ade Adetimehin, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Oladunni Odu, and some members of the National Assembly.
It was reported that the speaker said it was resolved at the meeting with President Tinubu that the status quo should remain and the deputy governor should write and sign an undated resignation letter.
Similarly, at the State Executive Council meeting on Thursday, which was presided over by Aiyedatiwa, members of the council agreed to allow peace to reign, in line with the resolutions reached at the meeting with the President.
But despite the resolution, a civil society group in the state, the Ondo State Coalition of Civil Society, said the only way out of the crisis was for the House of Assembly to begin the process of declaring Aiyedatiwa acting governor pending the return of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to the state.
The group, which comprises civil society groups in the state, said there was a need for the House to follow the Constitution and do the needful as, according to them, failure to do this would worsen the political crisis.
It said, “The Ondo State House of Assembly’s inaction is a dereliction of duty and a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Article 190 of the Constitution clearly states that the deputy governor shall assume the functions of the governor if the governor is unable to discharge the functions of his office.
We call on the Ondo State House of Assembly to immediately redress this lacuna and own up to its constitutional duty by appointing the Deputy Governor as Acting Governor. This is essential to restore normalcy, ensure continuity of governance, and protect the interests of the people of Ondo State.”
Another group under the aegis of the Ondo State League of Young Professionals said there was nothing the executive council could do without the approval of the governor, stating that the exco meeting held on Thursday was a mere entertainment of the cabinet members.
The group said, “However, it dawned on them that without a governor or an acting governor, there is little or nothing the cabinet could do in the face of the law. This accounted for why they agreed to stand down all the memos brought to the meeting indefinitely.”
However, the Chairman House Committee on Information, Olatunji Oshati, said the House could not declare Aiyedatiwa acting governor, insisting that peace was needed in the government first.
He added, “Everything is calm and that is what we need first. The President has met with us and all parties have agreed to maintain the status quo for the peace to reign. If there is peace we would be able to face the business of moving the state forward and that is what we are doing now.”
Credit: Punch
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