Agbola Ajayi, the deputy governor of the state of Ondo, who recently joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has asked Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to hand it over to him.
In a statement released for information after the Ondo envoy was announced, Donald Ojogho said the governor would never allow his deputy to take control of the state. Ajayi said he should be the acting governor because Akeredolu is partially incapacitated after testing positive for coronavirus.
The deputy governor insisted that the governor’s refusal to give him control of the state was against the constitution of the country.
The statement released by his spokesman, Allen Sowore, said
“Section 190 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended) is applicable in the prevailing constitutional abbreviation in the State of Ondo.
“It should be noted, however, that the Governor is at liberty to surrender or not surrender the Constitution within 21 days of its entry into force.
“The Governor’s refusal and failure to hand over the affairs of government to his deputy while temporarily incapacitated in self-isolation clearly underscores his absolute disregard for our nation’s supreme document, the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and the principles of the rule of law.
“The Governor’s position is a contempt for the people of the Ondo State and a direct attack on the provisions of the Constitution he has sworn to uphold.
“Governor Akeredolus consciously erected obstacles to the proper functioning of the government apparatus, while in self-isolation due to the fact that he tested positive for COVID 19 privileges, privileges the hypocritical nature of the war of the government of Ondo State against the devastating pandemic.
