By; ADEBOYE ADO, Akure
There was nervous apprehension in Ondo State over the weekend, following the rumoured death of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who has been battling with an undisclosed ailment believed to be leukemia.
As tension enveloped the entire atmosphere of the state over the illness, rumour was rife that Akeredolu had died, while some even said he was flew out of the country to receive urgent medical attention in Germany.
Fear further heightened after a media report (not from Fountain News) flooded the socal media that the Governor was bedridden and could not even attempt to append his signature on official documents in his Ibadan residence in Oyo State.
The Ondo State SDP Chairman, Stephen Adewale, fuelled the speculation after demanding Akeredolu’s whereabouts in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure, on Friday. Adewale also asked the Governor to present himself to the public so as to either douse tension that had pervaded the state or refute the unverified claim that his health had already deterioted.
“While the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State had enthusiastically and eagerly anticipated that the Governor would refute such rumours by presenting himself to the public, the silence from the Governor’s camp and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State is concerning and alarming.
“To us at Ondo SDP, therefore, their silence and failure to deny or confirm the information implies consent. There are now serious doubts about Governor Akeredolu’s capacity to continue to govern the Sunshine State as his medical conditions remain shrouded in secrecy.
“It is quite disturbing that the state of the governor’s health has become a topic of state curiosity and concern. This situation continues to undermine the ability of the State government to fulfil its obligations and commitments, including those requiring the government to provide economic pathways to millions of people facing absolute poverty and uncertainty in the Sunshine State due to the reckless and insensitive removal of subsidy by the APC-led federal government.
“Ondo SDP call on Arakunrin to respect the good people of Ondo State who have voted for him twice by presenting his medical records to the general public. We strongly believe that the good people of Ondo State have the right to know about the medical conditions of Arakunrin Akeredolu. In contrast to ordinary residents who have the right to keep their health state to themselves, high level elected officials like Arakunrin, whose treatment is being paid for by the public, cannot hide behind personal rules.
“Similarly, because Governor Akeredolu’s position is that of a trustee, he is required, as the governor of Ondo State, to inform the residents of Ondo State accurately about his present medical conditions.
Ensuring full access to his medical data would also assist and prevent instances and situations where the governor’s health is the daily subject of speculative interpretations, embarrassing commentary, incomplete, vague, and erroneous reports”, the SDP Chairman said.
As uncertainty continued to hang in the balance, Allen Sowore, an aide to the immediate past Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, alleged that “some desperate political appointees and politicians in Ondo state have constituted themselves into a dangerous Cabal to connive, conspire and manoeuvres rule of law and constitutionality following Arakurin’s deteriorating health condition”
He said “sections 190 & 191 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended make provisions for the smooth flow of authority and power to the deputy governor whenever the governor is indisposed – not necessarily when sick or died. This obviously is to prevent a lacuna and ensure that someone is always in charge of the people’s affairs.
“But for the Cabal, headed by the governor’s son, Babjide Akeredolu things must go the other way. Their major objective is to perpetuate themselves in office and usurp the Governor’s power to preside over state’s affairs for personal aggrandizement.
“Now, the Cabal has concluded plan to install the newly elected Member of the State House of Assembly from Owo Constituency, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi Emmanuel as the Speaker of the State Assembly – both the Governor and Speaker will now be from the same Northern Senatorial District, while they perfect plans to impeach the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa from the Southern Senatorial District.
“Honestly, the Akeredolus pay more attention on the occupation of the Office of Governor than the governor’s wellbeing. This has been the bane of his protracted illness. In 2019, Mr Governor travelled to Germany for a major treatment but couldn’t stay long enough to completely heal because one of the Special Assistants – Engr Austin Pelemo, in a Facebook post addressed the wife of the then deputy governor as ” Acting First lady”. Against the doctor’s advice, Arakurin rushed back to Nigeria.
“The same way he rushed out of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic because he didn’t want to transmit power to his deputy.
“Recently, Mr Governor took his annual leave on 3rd April and planned to resumed on 25th April. He had to shift the resumption date twice apparently because of his indisposition. Why is the governor rushing ? Why can’t he takes three months sick leave to focus more on his health while he transmit power to his deputy.
“Of truth, every discerning mind and lovers of democracy irrespective of party sentiments should rise and resist the surreptitious plans by members of a clique to hold Ondo state to a ransom because Mr Governor is indisposed. The people who truly love Mr Governor are those asking him to relinquish power temporarily and attend to his health. After all, health is the real wealth.
Not until yesterday when the storm was calmed after a viral video of 11secs surfaced, showing Akeredolu and some of his associates watching Manchester Derby FA Cup Clash.
Contrarily, the Governor was looking healthy in the terse video as against reports of him being critically indisposed.
Before then, the Ondo State Government had debunked the pervasive rumour that the Governor had passed away.
Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, urged the public to ignore the rumor, saying the Governor is alive.
“We have been inundated with calls and messages concerning the state of health of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain persons seek to draw political mileage from the disinformation.
“Though the Governor has been indisposed for sometime, he has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the Government, when necessary. We enjoin the members of the public to ignore the rumour. Aketi is very much alive.
