Reactions from the state’s stakeholders have continued as a result of Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State, returning to the nation and staying at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Following his return from a medical vacation last Thursday, Akeredolu has been residing at his home in Ibadan, prompting a verbal spat between the state chapters of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The measure for the establishment of local council development regions in the state was signed into law shortly after the governor returned from a medical vacation, and he thanked the people of the state for their support during the tough time.
The PDP said the failure of the governor to return to the state was an indication that he was not fit to return to the country from the medical leave but hurriedly rushed down for fear of impeachment.
But the APC said the PDP’s statement showed the opposition wanted the governor dead, urging the opposition to engage in constructive criticism rather than chasing shadow.
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In a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mrs Kennedy Peretei, on Friday, the opposition party said, “The Governor of Ondo State, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, is still nowhere to be found, eight days since he claimed he had resumed duties as Governor after his three months medical leave in Germany.”
“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?
However, the APC in a reaction by its Publicity Secretary, Alex Kalejaiye, said the governor had been attending to state matters the way he ought to.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Friday denied signing a pre-resignation letter as being rumoured in some quarters.
Aiyedatiwa said he knew nothing about the purported letter of resignation which was reportedly being circulated on social media in the recent time.
He declared that he did not resign from his position as the number two man in the state and had no intention of doing so.
The media aides of the embattled deputy governor had been relieved of their positions earlier in the week, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde.
However, in a statement Aiyedatiwa issued on Friday, he said, “I took an oath the day I was sworn in along with Mr Governor on February 24, 2021, to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on a four-year mandate which terminates on February 23, 2025, remain loyal to my principal and stand by the oath taken with the Bible to run the full cycle of the four-year tenure with Mr Governor.”
