Ondo Lawyers Ask Gov Akeredolu To Declare Medical Fitness Within 14 Days

A group of concerned lawyers in Ondo State have called on the Governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, to make known his medical state to people of the state through a press briefing on local or national media within 14 days to enable people of the state to know his current state of health.

This was contained in a letter addressed to the Executive Council of Ondo State, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Tuesday.

The lawyers are: Joshua Sebiotimo, I.I. Bewaji, Myson Nejo, Vincent Adodo, Kehinde Olowe, Abayomi Olahanmi, Michael Ojimba, Oluwaseun J Bawa, Adeyoriju Omowole and Victoria Lipo.

They bemoaned the current situation of the state in which governance in Ondo State has been practically grounded as a result of the absence of the governor.

According to them, if the governor failed to address the people of the state, the State Executive Council should declare pursuant to section 189 (1) of the 1999 Constitution that the Governor is incapacitated and unable to carry out the functions of his office.

The letter reads: “We are lawyers and concerned indigenes of Ondo State, taking cognizance of the sensitive office he occupies as the first citizen of Ondo State, we are inclined to state emphatically that the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) is incapacitated to continue to act or discharge the functions and responsibilities of his office as the Governor of the State owing to infirmity of the body and/or the time, which has remained so for quite a considerable and overwhelming length pegged at five months, without such intentions to exaggerate.

“To this end, therefore, we deem it quite expedient to remind you of your constitutional duty imposed on you by virtue of section 189 (1)a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which demands you to pass a resolution of two-thirds majority in situations such as this, declaring the Governor incapable of discharging the functions of his office.

“It is with utter regards and profound respect to your office(s) that we wish to convey to you our clamour and quest which also reflects the interest of the good people of Ondo State which you all have sworn to prioritise and protect at all times.

“A press briefing should be done by the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) through local or national media channels to ascertain the veracity of his alleged medical fitness, within fourteen (14) days upon the receipt of this letter.

“Where the Governor of Ondo State fails to comply with the above paragraph 1, the Executive Council of Ondo State must call a meeting to address the statutory duty imposed upon you by virtue of section 189 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), declaring the Governor incapable of discharging the functions of his office, within seven (7) days after the expiration of fourteen (14) days as indicated at paragraph 1 above.

“All other such responsibilities incidental to achieving the essence of section 189 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“Please note further that should you fail, refuse, and/or neglect to discharge your duty as imposed upon you by virtue of section 189 (1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), we shall not hesitate to obtain an Order of Mandamus against you compelling and mandating you to fulfill your constitutional duty,” the letter reads.