PDP set to go to court over Akeredolu's absence

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The whereabouts of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State remains a matter of controversy as the youth wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state chapter, insisted he must return to the state or resign.

The youths said they will drag the governor to court if the State House of Assembly failed to invoke Section 189(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the governor, who has been absent since his return from medical vacation about five weeks ago.

The PDP youths addressed a media briefing, at the party’s secretariat in Akure, saying that a letter has been sent to the assembly on the need to initiate the impeachment proceedings against the governor.

One of the youth leaders, Tayo Oluyi, told newsmen that: “It is crucial that the House of Assembly in the interest of our state and its citizens should uphold the constitutional provisions to ensure the continued and effective functioning of our government.

“We are ready as a main opposition party to take the governor to court or even the speaker if they fail to invoke Section 189(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on him (the governor).

“It is also in our legal rights to take to the streets if they fail to address this because our demands are very simple. We can’t have a governor who was yet to address the citizens since he returned from his medical vacation.”

Also, a former Senior Special Assistant to Akeredolu, Dr Benson Enikuomehin, condemned the absence of the governor from the state since his return from medical leave.

Enikuomehin wondered why Akeredolu was yet to resume despite a letter of resumption sent to the state assembly.

According to him, “They said the governor had arrived. But where is he in Government House? Nobody could locate it. Then we began to hear that one needed to go to Ibadan to see the governor, did we vote for him to be in Ibadan?

“It is one thing to write a letter. It is another thing to act it out. Who saw the governor when he was writing this letter that was written or to be read on the floor of the House of Assembly?

“Ondo State has become a flock of sheep without a shepherd. We want to see the governor. We want the governor to address our issues. It is not that we are insensitive to his health condition. As a matter of fact, we keep praying for him. I did when he was outside the country. I still do. But Ondo State is bigger than an individual.

“We cannot decimate the state because of the ill-advised ambitions of a few people. They made the deputy governor a puppet-acting governor.”

He said during the period the governor was away, Ondo State was in a state of wilderness, with the deputy governor not able to travel to Abuja, because he was told there was no money.

Consequently, Enikuomehin called on the National Assembly and state houses of assembly to streamline what the functions of the deputy governor should be.