Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s move of Ondo State’s seat of authority to Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, following his medical travel overseas has set tongues churning.
Akeredolu, who had left Nigeria for medical attention in Germany, where he spent three months, returned to the country last week, prompting celebrations from his political allies, supporters, aides, traditional rulers, civil servants, and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. However, the governor has been at his private residence in Ibadan since his return a week ago, from where he is running the affairs of Ondo State and reaching key decisions related to governance.
After Akeredolu temporarily ceded authority to his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in an acting capacity, there was conflict and political squabbling among his cabinet colleagues as a result of the power vacuum he had created during the trip.
In a statement issued by Richard Olatunde, his chief press secretary, Mr. Akeredolu officially confirmed his comeback. The governor arrived in Ibadan and immediately called a meeting with important Ondo State stakeholders.
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According to the statement, the governor gave the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Oladiji Olamide, a copy of his resumption letter at the meeting, and also gave Mr. Aiyedatiwa, the deputy governor, a copy.
Members of the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Olamide, members of the State Executive Council, led by the deputy governor, members of the National Assembly, led by Senator Jide Ipinsagba, and members of the APC State Working Committee, led by Chairman Engr. Ade Adetimehin, were among the participants at the meeting in Ibadan.
Others include youth organisations led by Comrade Olawande Ayo Wisdom, the Ondo APC Youth Leader, former local government chairmen under the direction of Hon. Augustine Oloruntogbe, and members of the Foundation of Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO), to which the governor’s wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, was included.
Akeredolu also met with members of the National Assembly, including Senator Jide Ipinsagba, who represents Ondo North, and Representatives Timehin Adelegbe, Donald Ojogo, Festus Akingbaso, Festus Idanre, Jimi Odimayo, and Gboyega Adefarati, who represents Owo and Ose, respectively, and Idanre and Ifedore.
According to the governor’s quote from the statement, “I said I have to meet with House of Assembly members here since we had to land here in Ibadan first. We’re back and we’re here. I’m back, and by the grace of God, I’ll make it through the remainder of my term in office. I just wanted to let you know that I’m back and will start working again right away. My letter of resume is attached.
However, since his return and formal declaration of his intention to finish his term, rumours about his ongoing residence in Ibadan rather than Akure, the capital of Ondo State, have persisted. This is true even though the governor has made two significant official decisions that are binding on Ondo from Ibadan. The bill establishing the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) has received his assent. He also fired his deputy’s media aides.
Residents, political observers, detractors, and opposition parties in the state are left wondering why the governor chose to run Ondo State’s affairs from another state as a result of the event.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern over Akeredolu’s continued presence in Ibadan and questioned why the governor has not been physically present in the state since his return from his overseas medical trip.
In a statement, the state publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kennedy Peretei, claimed that the governor’s protracted absence from Ondo demonstrated that he was not yet prepared to handle the pressures of office and that he had been packaged for return to the nation.
The statement reads in part: “Last week, we challenged the rationale for Akeredolu calling for a meeting in his Ibadan residence instead of Ondo State where he was elected to govern. Up till this moment, the governor has not been seen anywhere near Ondo State.
“Akeredolu is beginning to fuel media speculations that, against the advice of his doctors, he was hurriedly brought into Nigeria to foil an impeachment process. He also ordered an upgrade of his Ibadan residence to include a replica of the executive council chambers, from where he intends to hold exco meetings.
“Does Akeredolu want to make Ibadan the capital of Ondo State? What is the hurry to resume all about if he cannot come to Ondo State? Would it not have made more sense if he was still attending to his health abroad? Why did he say he had resumed when indeed he has not? Our party wishes to advise Akeredolu to come to Ondo State to complete his tenure.”
Jimmy Adekanye, a political activist from the state who addressed the issue, stated that Akeredolu should return to Akure, the state’s capital, because he was elected as the Executive Governor of Ondo State, not Ibadan, where he was currently residing.
He continued, “Instead of him to return to the state (Ondo) to address the people that he is back hale and hearty to govern the state, he chose to go to his private home in faraway Ibadan in Oyo State. Akeredolu was elected as Ondo governor and not Ibadan governor.
“The governor has a home in Owo, his home town, which is even less than an hour to the state capital and seat of power, Akure. Rather than governing the state from Ibadan, issuing memos from there to bind on the people of the state, why can’t he come back to the state?”
Political commentator Mr. Ayodeji Abisagbo responded by saying that the governor’s absence did not prevent him from carrying out his official responsibilities.
He said: “The governor has never committed any offence for staying in Ibadan, Oyo State capital. What he needs to do he is doing, and there was no vacuum in governance of the state even when he travelled abroad.
“Akeredolu has returned, and we thank God. He is performing his role and has resumed official and executive duty as the governor of the state. So, there is no issue here. We wanted him back and he is back here with us.”
The state’s ruling APC, however, said that the PDP’s criticism of Akeredolu demonstrated that the PDP never desired for the governor to return from his medical leave of absence.
The governor has been attending to state business since he arrived, particularly in the manner that he should, according to Alex Kalejaiye, the state APC’s spokesman. “It is ridiculous that the PDP has a problem with where our governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is located. This shows unequivocally that the opposition party never desired to bring Arakunrin back to life.
“The crux of the matter is that Mr Governor has been attending to state matters since his arrival the way he ought to irrespective of location. This is an indisputable reality. I sympathise with the PDP; it is a crisis-ridden political party that is bereft of ideas and no longer coherent and constructive.”
