Ondo State-based legal practitioner, Mr Allen Sowore, has suggested that the state Acting Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, should assert his authority and overhaul the state cabinet using the power given to him by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu delegated his powers to Aiyedatiwa while he sought medical treatment abroad, leading to internal conflicts within the state cabinet.
Speculation surrounding Governor Akeredolu’s condition has fueled public curiosity and concern. Some even went as far as spreading false rumours about his demise, although these claims were later debunked.
The issue with the cabinet arises from the incapacitation of Governor Akeredolu due to illness, which has resulted in divisions among cabinet members. Some have pledged their support to the deputy governor, while others hold out hope for the governor’s recovery.
Sowore, expressing his views, criticized a faction of the cabinet that remains loyal to Akeredolu, accusing them of creating obstacles for Aiyedatiwa and refusing to acknowledge him as the legitimate governor. He condemned their alleged insubordination and accused them of spreading false information about the acting governor through paid media outlets. However, he stopped short of advocating for the removal of any public officers in the state, as he believed it would exceed the acting governor’s authority. Instead, he advised a cabinet reshuffle.
Referring to Section 190 of the Constitution, Sowore emphasized that all state government officials, both political and civil servants, should obey and follow the orders of the acting governor just as they would with the governor himself. Any opposition to this, according to Sowore, would amount to insubordination.
Expressing his concern for the situation, Sowore criticized the “Ondo State Cabal” for their alleged efforts to sabotage and undermine the acting governor’s authority and prevent him from participating in state functions outside the state. He denounced their clandestine attempts to tarnish the acting governor’s reputation through media campaigns. Sowore believed that these actions should not be tolerated in a society that values integrity and intellectualism.
While acknowledging the delicate nature of the situation, Sowore refrained from advising the acting governor to dismiss or terminate the appointment of any public office holder, as he deemed it a populist move. Instead, he advocated for a reshuffle of the state cabinet to ensure a unified command during these challenging times. Sowore stressed the importance of critical stakeholders addressing the issue to prevent the state from descending into anarchy and lawlessness.
Quoting Section 190 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the lawyer said, “Whenever the governor transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office until he transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the deputy governor as acting governor.”
“Therefore, it is instructive and behooves all the state government officials – political and civil servants – to report and take orders from the acting governor the manner and way they would have done to Mr. Governor. Anything to the contrary is tantamount to an act of insubordination.
“But sadly, with a deep sense of patriotism, we regret to note the satanic activities of some members of the ‘Ondo State Cabal’ to sabotage and subvert the acting governor’s effort to assume the full and smooth running of government and its machinery while Mr Governor is away as stipulated by law.
“They don’t want the Aiyedatiwa to feature, attend or even appear at any serious state function outside the state. They want to cage him so that he will not have a national connection and recognition as the acting governor.
The current state of affairs is both shameful and laughable, as some cabinet ministers have aligned themselves with Aiyedatiwa to secure their positions in case Governor Akeredolu’s health does not improve. Meanwhile, others are engaged in a power struggle with the acting governor to demonstrate their loyalty to the governor. The cabinet members should ideally work together to maintain order in the state, but instead, they are consumed by internal conflicts, leaving their responsibilities unattended. This begs the question of when the politics of Nigeria will ever improve.
