The Ondo State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, have disagreed on the need to commence the impeachment process on Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, for allegedly violating the 1999 constitution as amended, over his absence in the state, since he returned from his medical vacation abroad.
The PDP on Thursday, asked Akeredolu to either resume or resign, saying that his absence in the state, since April, this year, was affecting governance.
The main opposition party in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, said: “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 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.
“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 handling of Akeredolu’s condition by his aides has robbed the Governor of public sympathy.
“The Constitution envisaged that a governor can be ill or incapacitated as is the case with Akeredolu now and therefore made safeguards.
“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 the reason an entire state must be brought to its knees.
“The PDP in Ondo State calls on the State Assembly to invoke sections 189(1) to cause a Medical Panel to be instituted to ascertain Akeredolu’s medical status and do the needful in the interest of the people of the state.
“Our party wishes to urge the Governor’s aides to stop ridiculing themselves by defending the indefensible and standing logic on its head.”
Meanwhile, the state House of Assembly in a quick response, faulted the PDP’s position, while urging the people of the state to ignore the opposition party, noting that “it lacked knowledge of the duties of a Governor.”
Defending the position of the governor, the Majority Leader of the assembly, Mr Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, said the governor has been performing his constitutional duties and has not breached any aspect of the Constitution.
Ogunmolasuyi said: “The PDP is not in the know whether the State Executive Council meeting is 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 signed all bills brought before him. What we know is that the PDP is a dead party. They cannot stipulate the duties of a Governor.”
