Akeredolu Is Disregarding Nigeria's Constitution - Deputy Governor Fires Back

Ondo state deputy governor, Agbola Ajayi, has described Governor Rotimi Akeredolu's refusal to hand over the governance of the state to him while the latter battles COVID-19 as an "absolute disregard for our nation's supreme document". 

In a statement released by the state Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogho, Rotimi said that he wouldn't be handing power over to his deputy, and that there was no one that could dictate to the governor whom to hand the duty of governing.

Ojogo had said that, "Handing over the governance of the state to Agboola is a non-issue and we are not even considering that."

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In response to Rotimi's disinclination to handing power over, Ajayi, in a statement, said that the constitution requires that he hands over power "or not within 21 days", adding that Rotimi was in violation of the decree.

He said, “Section 190 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is apposite in the prevailing constitutional abberration in Ondo State.

“However, it should be noted, that Mr Governor is at liberty to handover or not within 21 days after which the constitution becomes operational.

“Ostensibly, the refusal and failure of Mr Governor to handover the running of government to his deputy while he is temporarily incapacitated in self- isolation underscore his absolute disregard for our nation’s supreme document, 1999 Constitution (as amended) as well as the tenets of rule of law.

“The Governor’s position is a spite on the Ondo State people and a direct assault on the provisions of the constitution which he swore to uphold.

“Governor Akeredolu’s deliberate mounting of obstacles to smooth running of government machinery while he’s in self isolation as a result of the fact that he has been tested positive for the COVID-19 privileges the hypocratical nature of Ondo State government’s war against the ravaging pandemic.”