Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, has advised President Bola Tinubu to wade into the “constitutional crisis” in Ondo to avoid a looming breakdown of law and order in the state.
Mr Fasoranti advised in a letter written to Mr Tinubu on Tuesday after an emergency meeting of some elders and leaders of the state held at the Ijapo residence of the Afenifere leader in Akure.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, his excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is hereby passionately called upon to intervene and end the present constitutional crisis in the state to avoid the looming breakdown of law and order in Ondo state,” the Afenifere leader wrote in the letter, with a copy later released to reporters on Wednesday in Akure.
Peoples Gazette gathered that Mr Fasoranti’s letter was borne out of the continued absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from the state, which has continued to generate ripples and political discussion among the critics and oppositions of the government.
Mr Akeredolu, who returned to the country three months ago after a medical vacation in Germany, has not been seen in the state since the announcement of his arrival.
Rather, the governor has been in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital and has refused to hand over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in an acting capacity.
The Gazette reports that the governor’s refusal to hand over power while still attending to his fragile health has continued to spark protests and reactions from concerned residents of the state.
Last month, the youth wing of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state insisted that Mr Akeredolu was “incapacitated” and might no longer continue in office, urging him to relinquish power to his deputy, Mr Aiyedatiwa.
Also, some elders and leaders in the state, such as Olu Falae, Seinde Arogbofa, Femi Aluko, Korede Duyile, Olu Aderounmu and several others, have made concerted efforts to intervene by asking the governor to take more rest and allow the state to be run by his deputy.
But positing further in his letter to Mr Tinubu, the Afenifere leader lamented the prolonged absence of the governor.
Mr Fasoranti noted that the feeling of hopelessness has continued to rent the air in the state as the citizens no longer enjoy the expected dividends of democracy and good governance.
He added that the misinformation about the state of being of the governor and lack of communication between him and his deputy have resulted in the inability of the latter to perform his constitutional duties on behalf of the governor for the sake of good governance of the state.
While noting that efforts were already being made by the elders/leaders to mitigate the crisis between Messers Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, the elder statesman expressed surprise at the roles currently being played by lawmakers of the state house of Assembly in the absence of the governor.
He also decried the failure of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the executive arm of government to nip the ongoing crisis in the bud before it escalated.
“Apparent confusion and helplessness of Civil/Public Servants in the State in the absence of appropriate and clearly delineated directive.
“Current utter disrespect for the Rule of Law in Ondo state whereby self-serving persons have taken over the government without due regard to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Absence and non-active participation of Ondo State in National affairs due to the lingering crisis and foreseeable problems of late preparation of the 2024 Budget by the Executive Arm for the customary timely presentation to the State House of Assembly,” Mr Fasoranti added in the letter.
The Afenifere leader, however, called for prayers for the improved health of Mr Akeredolu, noting that, without doubt, his absence has caused a lack of sustained good governance in the state.
SOURCE: PEOPLES GAZETTE
