Some lawyers of Ondo State extraction have demanded the Ondo State Executive Council to comply with the provisions of Section 189 (1) of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) by declaring that the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, is incapacitated and unable to perform the functions of his office.
In a letter, dated the 20th October 2023, addressed to the Executive Council of Ondo State and copied to individual members of the Council, including the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Secretary to the State Government; and the Commissioner for Justice, the lawyers namely Joshua Sebiotimo, I.I. Bewaji, Myson Nejo, Vincent Adodo, Kehinde Olowe, Abayomi Olahanmi, Michael Ojimba, Oluwaseun J. Bawa, Adeyoriju Omowole, and Victoria Lipo, bemoaned the current situation of the State in which governance in the State had been practically grounded as a result of the absence of the governor.
They also pointed to the governor’s non performance of the functions of his office since he was flown back from Germany, where he had received medical attention.
The lawyers consequently made the following demands from the Executive Council:
“That the Governor should address the State by way of a press briefing on local or national media within 14 days from the day of receipt of the letter to enable his state of medical fitness be ascertained;
“Upon the failure of the Governor to address such press conference, the State Executive Council should declare, pursuant to section 189 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, that the Governor is incapacitated and unable to perform the functions of his office.
In the event that the State Executive Council fails to make declaration as demanded, the lawyers indicated their intention to take appropriate legal action.
The Executive Council includes the Deputy Governor, SSG, Chief of Staff, Head of Service and all the Commissioners.
