Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has called on the House of Assembly to begin impeachment process against Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for violating the 1999 Constitution as amended.
It urged the assembly to cause a medical panel to be instituted to ascertain Akeredolu’s medical status and do the needful in the interest of the people.
But Ondo House of Assembly urged the people to ignore the PDP because it lacked knowledge of the duties of a governor.
Majority Leader Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi said the governor had been performing his duties and had not breached any aspect of the constitution.
Spokesman for Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement issued yesterday, said government activities had been grounded and the state had been on auto-pilot for nearly six months due to ill health of Governor Akeredolu.
He said the handling of Akeredolu’s condition by his aides had robbed the governor of public sympathy.
Said he: “Unfortunately, rather than tell the citizens the truth, most of Akeredolu’s handlers have resorted to insulting the sensibilities of the people by making a public show of their ignorance.
“The constitution envisages that it is possible for a governor to be ill or incapacitated as it is the case with Akeredolu now and therefore makes safeguards.
“Section 193(2) states expressly that ‘the governor of a state shall hold regular meetings with the deputy governor and all commissioners of the government of the state for the purposes of -Determine the general direction of policies of the state, among other provisions.
“When was the last time Akeredolu held a State Executive Council meeting?
“It is not a crime to be ill, but that will not be reason an entire state must be brought to her knees.
“Our party wishes to urge the governor’s aides to stop ridiculing themselves by defending the indefensible and standing logic on its head.”
Ogunmolasuyi said the Assembly had noted ongoing developmental projects across the state, including prompt payment of salaries and clearing of backlog of salary arrears.
He said the PDP was not in the know whether the State Executive Council meeting was held or not.
According to him, “the governor is doing his duties. Everything is going on well in the state. We have met with the governor and all those that want to meet with him.
“If the governor is not doing what he is supposed to do, we will question him. He has signed all bills brought before him. What we know is that the PDP is a dead party. They cannot stipulate the duties of a governor.”
