RE- “TAKE CHARGE OR RESIGN- YOUR SILENCE IS NO LONGER GOLDEN” :A LITTLE RESPONSE
Oladimeji Abeeb and Abegunde Peter writes from Owo
The outcome of their Savannah covert meeting of conspiracy against the government is unfolding via the open letter to Deputy Governor Dr. Olayemi Adelami .
The Deputy Governor’s constitutional role is clear:
To support the Governor, act as Governor when needed, and participate in state governance.
Let’s dwell on the following to form opinion perhaps the Deputy Governor is sidelined or shortchanged in his constitutional roles so far;
In Nigeria, the Deputy Governor is a constitutional office established by Section 192 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Constitutional roles of a Deputy Governor include:
- Acting as Governor: The Deputy Governor shall act as Governor whenever the Governor is:
- Absent from the state or
- Unable to discharge the functions of the office due to illness or other reasons.
- Succession: The Deputy Governor shall succeed the Governor if the office of the Governor becomes vacant due to:
- Death
- Resignation
- Impeachment or
- Incapacity
- Assisting the Governor: The Deputy Governor shall assist the Governor in the discharge of the Governor’s functions and duties.
- Representing the Governor: The Deputy Governor may represent the Governor at official functions and events, as directed by the Governor.
- Other Duties: The Deputy Governor shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Governor or as may be provided by law.
The Deputy Governor is also expected to:
- Be a member of the State Executive Council
- Participate in the decision-making process of the state government
- Support the Governor in policy formulation and implementation
- Undertake assignments as delegated by the Governor
The Deputy Governor’s role is crucial in ensuring continuity and stability in governance, particularly in the absence or incapacitation of the Governor.
Let’s focus on constructive engagement and collaboration between stakeholders to tackle Ondo State’s challenges. Dr. Adelami is aware of his responsibilities, and we should respect his role and let him do his job without pressure.
The allegations of autocratic tendencies in Owo Local Government might be misguided, as governance is complex and leaders face tough decisions. Overseeing Owo Legislative Council isn’t part of his job; his role is to assist the Governor as needed.
Prioritizing dialogue and cooperation will drive progress and development in Ondo State.
This conspiracy can’t stand the test of time.
I know too well that if His Excellency Dr. Olaide Adelami is given a privilege to resign respectfully, he will honourably turn your request down because he understood the body language of the writer “Folahanmi Odunayo”.
The purported letter is never an advice but a crocodile tears for the power that was never abrogated to the Deputy Governor either by the constitution nor moral standards.
The same set of people or groups of persons were the one sitting in the corner writing fictitious petitions against imaginary political enemies whom they were suspicious has unfiltered access to the Governor of Ondo State. H.E. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa informing the Governor that certain position are not the interests of Owo people that the Deputy Governor’s position is enough for the local government area.
Looking critically to the position of these political usurpers, you will know that they were not representing the Owo community but for their selfishness and self aggradisments. If not so, how Owo sons and daughters wrote a lengthy letter to Mr Governor instructing him to dropped another prominent and self made child of the community? Such proposal doesn’t mean well for the people of Owo.
Like it happened in Chief Adebayo Adefarati/AD regime, when Mr. Segun Ojo was Commissioner for Finance, logically, Owo people told Adefarati that he hasn’t appointed indigenous Owo person into his cabinet and it took the wisdom of the AD elders to have brought on board Mrs Jumoke Anifowoshe-Ajasin to complement and placate the situation.
It was that same experienced that triggered the late Governor Olusegun Agagu to strategically refused to appoint political cabinet member from Owo Local Government area during his 6 year rule because the Owo people stood up against his preferred choice.
Meanwhile, during the Dr. Olusegun Mimiko Regime, the preferred choice of the Governor was Alhaji S. Babatunde Basaru while the grassroots people wanted the return of Pa. Segun Ojo and there were lots of petitions signed against the nomination of the Governor’s choice but after due consultation, the Governor’s choice subsided and that was the beginning of the end of “the General’s” political oblivion. It was later the same struggle that brought up Barrister Niran Akinsuyi Sule to become a commissioner in that Labour Party administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko until Owo ganged up against him and ease him out from the political space. So I don’t know when it becomes a sin to appoint two strategic positions in Owo.
So, you will understand that all that transpired under the regime of the late Rotimi Akeredolu/Aiyedatiwa has given everyone in the present dispensation a nugget of being up and doing and not allowing anyone to outplayed you in the game of power.
The political situation glaring at us today is the consequences of actions taken in the beginning of this political dispensation today by the naysayers that has now boomerang.
Although, it wasn’t played nor initiated by the Deputy Governor but he allowed himself to be used and the tide is now flowing towards him.
My advise to Mr. Writer is to allow Baba Olaide Adelami enjoy his office and allow peace in Owo political firmament.
COMMENTS