A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Mr. Sola Ajisafe, on Wednesday, appealed to the Acting Governor, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa, not to reshuffle the cabinet to favour his supporters within the State Executive Council.
Ajidafe, who made this appeal while featuring in a radio programme in Akure, the state capital, said the steps would be seen to undermine the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who is recuperating in an undisclosed hospital abroad.
According to him, arrangements are ongoing to reshuffle the cabinet to favour some members of the State Executive Council.
Ajisafe said the information at his disposal indicated that the Acting Governor would soon redeploy the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Princess Oladunni Odu, to the Ministry of Commerce, while the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, would be posted to Culture and Tourism.
The lawyer said such action is contrary to the 1999 constitution and would be contrary to the agreement reached with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the peace meeting held in Abuja.
He said, “Section 190 of the Constitution did not give the Deputy Governor the power to reshuffle the cabinet. The section gives the acting governor the right to act on behalf of the governor and not override the decisions of the governor. There can’t be two governors at the same time.”
Ajisafe said the two memos that emanated from the office of the acting governor, including the freezing of the local governments and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) accounts, and that the Chief of Protocol (COP) to Akeredolu is capable of undermining the office of the governor.
He noted that the protest by non-state actors demanding the resignation of Akeredolu showed that Aiyedaiwa wanted to succeed his boss through any means.
According to him, the first time President Tinubu summoned the gladiators to Abuja, there was no effort on the part of the acting governor as the leader of the state to reconcile all warring factions; rather, he said he recruited non-state actors to protest to demand the resignation of Governor Akeredolu.
Ajisafe said, “These are the people who are not seen when they are needed but always come when their services are needed.
“When Owo was attacked, they were not seen. During COVID-19, they were nowhere to be found. When herdsmen were on the prowl, they kept quiet. During the Endsars protests, they did not protest. They only came when they had an agenda to push.
“When they returned from Abuja the second time and Aiyedatiwa was made the acting governor, these people said Akeredolu was incapacitated and that he should relinquish the seat.
“Section 189 of the constitution talked about permanent incapacitation, not as freely being used by these people. These are the people who are pushing an agenda capable of rocking the boat of progress in Ondo State.”
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