Ondo state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to hand over to him or he will invoke the constitution declaring him incapacitated.
In a statement on Saturday by the Media Aide to the Governor, Mr. Allen Sowore, Ajayi berated Akeredolu for subverting the law despite his status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“Ordinarily, one expects Mr. Governor to bring to bear on governance his background as a lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN). But it is rather surprising and worrisome that the governor has chosen the part of perversion of justice, by allowing his close aides to go astray in a matter of constitutionality.
“Section 190(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is apposite in the prevailing constitutional aberration in Ondo State. On our part, we will continue to pray fervently for Mr. Governor’s quickest recovery.
“However, it should be noted that Mr Governor is at liberty to handover or not within 21 days after which the constitution becomes operational. Ostensibly, the refusal and failure of Mr Governor to handover the running of government to his deputy while he is temporarily incapacitated in self-isolation underscores his absolute disregard for our nation’s supreme document, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the tenets of rule of law.
“The governor’s position is a spite on the Ondo State people and a direct assault on the provisions of the Constitution which he swore to uphold.
“Governor Akeredolu’s deliberate mounting of obstacles to smooth running of government machinery while he’s in self-isolation as a result of the fact that he has tested positive for the COVID-19 highlights the hypocritical nature of Ondo State government’s war against the ravaging pandemic,” the statement said.
Akeredolu has gone into isolation after he tested positive for COVID-19 last week. The Governor vowed not to hand over to Ajayi, who he described as a betrayer. He said he will continue to govern the state from isolation.