President Bola Tinubu has been told to apply the “doctrine of necessity” to resolve the political impasse in Ondo State arising from the inability of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to carry out his day-to-day responsibilities.
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, made the call on Sunday in an open letter to the president titled. “Urgent need to resolve the Ondo State Impasse.”
He likened current developments in the state to the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua situation in 2010 where the former president failed to transmit power to his deputy despite his terminal illness.
The foremost South-South leader recalled that various groups rose up to protest in Lagos and Abuja until an eminent group of Nigerians led by former head of state, General Yakubu Gowon had to design the doctrine of necessity which was recommended to the national assembly for adoption.
It enabled then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to assume his role as the acting president and resolved the 2010 logjam.
Clark stated: “The on-going impasse in Ondo State can be likened to what happened when our dear late President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was very ill, and did not transmit a letter to the National Assembly in accordance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, to enable the then Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to act as president.
“I wish to recall that during the time, the nation was almost grinding to a halt because there was no one administratively in charge of the affairs of the country.”
Noting how the doctrine saved the country, he told President Tinubu: “Today, we are again faced with a Constitutional debacle. First of all, I wish to thank Mr. President for your intervention into the Ondo State crisis, both as President of the country and as leader of your political party, the APC, in the manner you handled the matter.”
Referencing the effort of the president so far to resolve the issue, he warned that tension remained between the camps of Governor Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, saying: “Mr. President I think there is need to act fast because we have seen that despite your good intentions, the crisis is brewing much tension rather than abating. There is a growing agitation for and against each of the parties.”
Clark added: “Like I stated earlier, this matter is building up tension. It is, therefore, my opinion that Mr. President, as leader of his ruling APC political party, may want to amend his earlier terms of settlement.
“And since there is no constitutional provision for such quagmire, because under Section 5 (2) of the Constitution, the State Governments are autonomous and are not subsidiaries of the central government. They are fully in-charge of their state. It is only the National Assembly that is empowered to do so under Chapter 1, Part 2, Section 4 Legislative Power.”
He further advised the president, “Let me add that beyond any constitutional provision and your leadership of your political party, the APC, it is Your Excellency’s moral obligation as father of the country to use your good office to intervene and resolve all manners of political crisis around the country.
“The action of the Ondo State House of Assembly by going to court to prevent the National Assembly from interfering in the matters of the State House of Assembly is also escalating the issues.
“Every facet of Ondo State is currently sharply divided; the executive and legislative arms all have people either supporting the Governor or the Deputy Governor.
“Finally, Mr. President, I wish to state that we have enough insecurity in the country which has largely stretched our security forces. This is why you must urgently and firmly act in the current situation in Ondo State, under a doctrine of necessity. And if I may add, also in Rivers State, for which I will be addressing a separate letter to you in the next few days. I will continue to pray for your well being and success.”
Clark noted that though his letter may come to the president as a surprise because he is not from the Southwest, “but as a senior citizen of our dear country, I sincerely believe that we have a duty to give you support and advice in all ramifications, particularly in solving the insecurity issues facing the country, and anything that can escalate it, in all parts, especially in the North-West. Every effort, should, therefore, be made, in this regard, to avert any crisis in any part of the country.”
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