Ondo Leadership Crisis: Make Aiyedatiwa Ag. Governor Now – Group Insists …Says ‘No Room for Legalization of Criminality

From Our Correspondent

A Civil society group for good governance and the fight against corruption, Acts For Positive Transformation Initiatives, has called on the Ondo State House of Assembly to resolve the ongoing leadership crisis in the State by immediately invoking the doctrine of necessity that will make the State Deputy Governor, Hon.

The group said that condoning any form of criminality that characterized the ongoing leadership crisis in the State will not only be counterproductive for the State, but also for the country.

The group made the call on Tuesday in a statement issued by its Head, Directorate of Research and Strategy, Mr Kolawole Johnson, in Abuja, noting that the attempts to sweep the cases of forgery involving the office of the ailing Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu under the carpets would not augur well for State as many other forgeries may have been carried out via other government agencies in the State.

The statement reads: “The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, intervened, once again, in the current political impasse in Ondo State and spoke decisively on the part of the provision of the law by ordering the immediate emergence of the Deputy Governor as the Acting Governor.”

“We note that the transfer of power to the deputy governor in an acting capacity pending the return of the governor to his duty post is the constitutional and right thing to do.

“However, the point of disagreement here is the President’s acceptance of Babajide Akeredolu’s plea for a letter from Governor Rotimi Akeredolu transmitting power to his deputy, in place of the Doctrine of Necessity earlier directed.

“The President is aware that our organisation is already working with relevant agencies on the criminal allegation of large-scale forgery of Governor Akeredolu’s signature on account of his unfortunate ill health at the moment.

“The danger looming is that if a forged signature is allowed as the premise for transmission of power to Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, it will be difficult to reject the same forged signature on other documents that are currently in our possession and many more in different government agencies across the state. There can not be a rejection of the signature in some instances and acceptance of the same in other instances.

“We, however, do know that the President is fully in the know of Governor Akeredolu’s state of health at the moment, his level of lucidity, and his likely inability to sign any letter.

“It’s our concern that any attempt to accept a forged letter to the House of Assembly which will transfer power to the deputy governor in an acting capacity will confer some sort of legitimacy on the forgery already perpetrated which will make it difficult for the forgers to face the full wrath of the law in the fullness of time as we are determined to bring perpetrators to face the law.

“In this circumstance, we suggest an electronic signature be used in place, or a law enforcement officer be sent alongside the Governor’s son to sign the letter in full glare of the camera.

“We advise that the right thing be done in making the deputy governor the acting governor while we pray for the full recuperation of the governor,” the group said.