…Insists That Imposing Akeredolu On Ondo People Constitutes Illegality
By Owolola Adebola
A Lagos-based activist, Comrade Wale Stephen Odusola, has said that politicians across the country should allow the country to be governed by law and not by men.
Odusola made this statement shortly after returning from a journey to Ondo State, where he had gone to attend to some political matters.
He was actually fielding questions from journalists who had thronged his home to hear him out on the political lull that seems to have enveloped Ondo State, following the absence of the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, from office.
Responding to a question put to him, the very outspoken Odusola, said, “Chapter 6. Part 2. Section 189 of our Constitution states clearly about permanent incapacity of a governor or deputy governor.
“If a governor or deputy governor is known to be suffering from infirmity of body or mind and that such infirmity has rendered him permanently incapable of discharging the functions of his office, his deputy takes over, particularly in a case of the fovernor of Ondo State as a reference.
“Whereas, the main roles and responsibilities of a deputy governor include: assisting the fovernor in exercising primary assignments and is also eligible to replace a dead, impeached, absent or ill governor as required by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.”
Odusola, who roundly praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his intervention for peaceful co-existence among the key players in the governance of Ondo State, added that the President of this great country should tow the path of law by looking into the position of our Constitution in resolving this matter permanently.
He said, “Our President should allow us to be governed by law and not by men.
“Of course, as matter of fact, it is constitutionally imperative that Lucky Ayedatiwa as the deputy governor of Ondo State, be approved as the acting governor for the sake of peace and co-existence. In this vein, our dear party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ondo State will be politically strengthened for the forthcoming governorship election.”
Speaking further, he said, “It must be noted that, the deputy governor of Ondo State, Aiyedatiwa, sought to halt the impeachment process against him through an order of court at the Federal High Court, Abuja. The court granted an order to suspend the impeachment process initiated by the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“Recall that while expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling of Justice Emeka Nwite on September 26, 2023, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly and the House of Assembly – 4th and 6th defendants – appealed the decision. They also challenged the court’s jurisdiction to issue the order.
“At the Court of Appeal, the appellants filed an application to expedite the compilation and transmission of appeal records. During the hearing, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his counsel, Ebun Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, vehemently opposed the application, urging the court to dismiss it for lack of merit.”
