On November 27, 2023, influential individuals from Ondo State, among them human rights advocate Omoyele Sowore, petitioned Chief Judge Justice Ayedun Olusegun Odusola, urging him to utilize Section 189 of the Constitution to assess Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s ability to sustain governance in the state.
The letter, titled “RE: THE UNCONSCIONABLE PARALYSIS OF GOVERNANCE IN ONDO STATE,” expresses concern over Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s prolonged absence from official duties since his return from medical treatment in September 2023.
The indigenes, acknowledging Akeredolu’s health challenges, highlight the need for the Chief Judge to compel the Ondo State Executive Council to act in accordance with constitutional provisions. They specifically request the Chief Judge to direct the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to constitute a medical panel to assess Akeredolu’s capacity to govern.
According to them, Akeredolu had stated during Yar’Adua’s sickness,
“The prayer of the association is that the President should recover fast, return to his office, and resign. No matter how much you love your country, it should not be to the detriment of your health.
“It is not your party or your wife that will decide whether you are capable of handling state matters; it is only your doctors that can decide that. The bar is not asking the President not to come back and take his seat, but the right thing must be done.”
Ondo Assembly Resolves Political Crisis, Embraces Peace, Progress
Citing the governor’s failure to convene the state executive council meetings, the indigenes underscore the urgency for the Chief Judge’s intervention to prevent a further crisis in the state. The letter emphasizes the adherence to Section 189 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) as a crucial step to address the governance vacuum in Ondo State.
The letter partly read:
“Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been ill for most of his 2nd term since he was sworn into office on February 24, 2021. This year, he embarked on a well-documented medical leave, handing over executive powers to his Deputy Governor on June 7.
“He returned on September 7 and promptly wrote to the State House of Assembly informing them of his return. However, due to his ill health and the poor state of public health facilities in Akure, he has been forced to stay in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital to access the care he needs.
“Any human being can be sick at any point in time and it is certainly not Mr Akeredolu’s wish for his body to have failed him in this manner. In the words of Thomas Fuller, “Health is not valued till sickness comes.”
“Therefore, the issue is not that Mr Akeredolu is ill, but that governance has been completely paralysed, gravely impacting the quality of life of approximately 5.3 million residents in the process.
“Furthermore, the leadership he assembled to govern the state has shown a clear inability to step in and provide much-needed leadership of the state in his absence.
“Whereas: “1) The Ondo State Executive Council (EXCO) has not met properly since Monday, August 14, 2023 when Mr Akeredolu was still on sick leave. Therefore, the Ondo State EXCO has not met since he returned to the country in September.
“2) The said Ondo State EXCO has failed to carry out its responsibility to the Ondo State people as clearly stated in Section 189 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
“3) The Ondo State House of Assembly, as an independent arm of government that is mandated to provide oversight on the executive arm of government, has also failed to take decisive action on this matter.
“In light of this, we call on your Lordship to act in your capacity as the leader of the third arm of government, with independent powers to enforce the law of the land to compel the Ondo State EXCO to act in line with Section 189 of the Constitution and request that the Speaker of the State House of Assembly constitute a medical panel to ascertain Mr Akeredolu’s capacity to govern.
“We have given Mr Akeredolu two months since his return in September 2023, to do the same thing he asked former President Yar’Adua to do in 2010.”
Signed by notable figures such as Gbenga Sesan from Ifedore LGA, Yemi Adamolekun from Akure North LGA, Ademola Adesida from Akure South, Feyi Fawehinmi from Ondo West, Japhet J Omojuwa from Ilaje LGA, Kayode Ogundamisi from Akoko North-East LGA, Omokunbi Adeoti (Mrs) from Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo LGA, Omolara Gbonigi from Akoko North-East LGA and Omoyele Sowore from Ese-Odo LGA, the letter aims to ensure the rule of law prevails in determining the governor’s ability to fulfill his duties.
