Barring last-minute changes, lawmakers of the Ondo State House of Assembly would declare Governor Rotimi Akeredolu unfit and ask his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to take over in acting capacity.
The latest political development in Ondo State is not unconnected Akeredolu’s continuous battle with fragile health.
In May, Akeredolu had written to the assembly, announcing that he was transferring power to his deputy to enable him focus on his health.
However, in his absence, things fell apart between Akeredolu’s loyalists and the acting governor.
Immediately he returned to Nigeria from his three-month medical leave in Germany, the governor moved to his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, and has not stepped foot in the Sunshine State.
Akeredolu’s aides claimed the governor resumed office on September 8, a day after returning from Germany, effectively taking over from his deputy, but there are clear indications that governance is on autopilot
Ninaworldnews learnt that the absence of Akeredolu from Akure and the inability of Aiyedatiwa to act have created a vacuum in governance, which analysts said is being exploited by politicians ahead of the governorship election in the state billed for November 16, 2024.
It was gathered that the lawmakers have decided to hold a plenary session to discuss and save the state from its current political crisis.
A source who spoke to our reporter said the lawmakers were getting embarrassed over the bombardment from different quarters about their silence on the continuous hang to power by Akeredolu while still attending to his health.
The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the decision by the lawmakers to have a plenary where the governor’s health would be discussed, was taken after the intervention of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said some of the lawmakers have kicked against declaring Aiyedatiwa as acting governor.
“The lawmakers would meet at the plenary and one of the agenda of the sitting is to declare Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor since Governor Akeredolu is not fit yet due to his health challenge.
“But some of the lawmakers may not be at the sitting because they are not in support of Aiyedatiwa becoming acting governor despite the intervention of the leadership of the APC in Abuja,” the source added.
Speaking on the development, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Mr Olatunji Oshati, said a meeting of the lawmakers had been summoned to discuss the current political logjam in the state.
Oshati, who did not give the exact agenda of the planned sitting, explained that the assembly would make its resolution public at the appropriate time.
“The assembly will only sit and discuss the political situation in the state as already directed by the national leaders of the party,” he said.
President Bola Tinubu is set to meet with key political actors in the state over the current feud between, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa.
It was gathered that the meeting fixed for Abuja was being summoned by Tinubu following the political crisis.
