While the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is battling an illness, politicians in the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition are in deft moves to make political capital out of it, PETER DADA writes
In the past few days, people of Ondo State have been expressing apprehension over the health status of the state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, who was reported to be ill and has been off public scenes in recent times, while most of his official assignments are being carried out by his aides on his behalf.
At many official and social functions of the government, it is the deputy governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who has been representing the governor while some other aides were sometimes assigned to stand in for Akeredolu
The people were more apprehensive when a media report came out penultimate week that the governor’s health had deteriorated further. This report psychologically caused confusion for the residents and indigenes of the state, particularly friends and associates of the governor.
However, few days days later, an 11-second viral video, which was shared among the people did what could be described as a damage control as the appearance of the governor in the video doused the tension, anxiety, and panic in the state. The video apparently changed some impressions about the governor’s health matters as it indicated that he was still alive.
In the video, Akeredolu was seen among some people believed to be his friends and associates, sitting down and watching a live football match between Manchester United Football Club (his favourite English football club) and Manchester City FC, on that Saturday . He was also seen drinking a bottle of water himself as he was watching the match. This contradicted the earlier media report that he could not lift his hands.
Prior to the appearance of the governor in the viral video, many people were praying for the quick recovery of the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, a post, Akeredolu holds.
The major opposition parties – the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party – engaged in a blame game as they were curiously enquiring to know the whereabouts of the governor. Although playing the roles of opposition, the two parties blamed the governor’s aides and the state government in general for allegedly concealing the health status and the whereabouts of the state’s number one man.
In the statement by the SDP, titled, ‘Rumoured bedridden, unable to sign documents: where is Governor Rotimi Akeredolu?’, and signed by the state chairman of the party, Mr Stephen Olawale, the SPD was of the notion that even if the governor was indisposed, the people of the state had a right to know his health status. With the statement, the party might be insinuating foul play in the matter.
The statement read, “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 imply 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.”
On the part of the main opposition party, the PDP, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, also slammed the aides of the governor for allegedly keeping mum and pretending all is well with their boss. The party believes that keeping silent about the governor is unnecessary at the period and it is a disservice to the governor if his aides are mute on his whereabouts.
The statement was titled ‘Theatre of the absurd: Akeredolu’s whereabouts should not be a secret
It read, “The handlers and managers of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, Governor of Ondo State, have once again proved that they are not on top of their assignments. They will rather take everybody in the state for granted.
“When Akeredolu did not return to his duty post after his celebrated annual leave in March this year, tongues started wagging. At the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Akeredolu was conspicuously absent.
“The deafening silence from government information machinery suddenly saturated social media space with old videos of Akeredolu dancing and singing praises.
“On the eve of the inauguration of the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly, there were reports of an ‘Owo cabal’ was mobilising members-elect to make a legislator from Owo Speaker, as a fallback position to retain the leadership of the state in Owo, in the event of the worst happening, after impeaching the incumbent Deputy Governor.
“These speculations almost put the state on edge until this morning (Saturday), when the Ondo State House of Assembly retained the present power structure of Speakership of the Assembly in Ondo Central Senatorial District. If Akeredolu’s handlers had done the needful, the state would have been spared the unnecessary anxiety.
“As mortals, any human being can fall sick. Whether in public office or private life. Rotimi Akeredolu is employed by the people of Ondo State, and maintained with taxpayers’ money. So, it is criminal and a great disservice to keep mum over his health status and his whereabouts.
“ The PDP Ondo State Chapter, demands that those hiding the governor should tell the people where he is to save the state from speculation.”
On the contrary, statements from the opposition parties were countered by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, who declared that the governor was alive but indisposed.
The statement read, “We have been inundated with calls and messages concerning the state of health of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain persons were seeking to draw political mileage from the disinformation.
“Though the governor has been indisposed, 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.”
In the same vein, a socio-political group under the auspices of the Sunshine Elites for Good Governance warned politicians in the state to desist from politicising the health situation of the governor.
The group in a statement, by its Coordinator, Mr Dare Fakunle, condemned the attitude of some politicians, particularly those in the ruling APC who were alleged to be mostly concerned about their own personal interest rather than to seek ways for the governor to be back in the office.
It also warned that the health condition of the governor should not be subjected to political controversy but rather, the politicians and people of the state should be praying for Akeredolu to bounce back health-wise.
The statement read, “We have been reading stories from different political groups about the health status of our governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu . We want to appeal to our politicians to stop politicising the issue.”
It is a thing of note that the state of health of Mr Governor has stirred up mixed feelings, even among the members of the ruling APC, particularly those that are warming up for the big contest- the state governorship election – coming up next year. As it is currently in the party, over 15 chieftains had clandestinely signified interest in contesting for the ticket of the party ahead of the 2024 governorship poll.
“No one prays for the governor to die but I can tell you that some of the gladiators are quietly happy about his health condition because they believe that with his present health state, he would not be able to wield much influence in the process of choosing who will succeed him. On the other hand, those who rely on him for anointing are doing everything possible both physically and spiritually to ensure Mr Governor returns to the office safe and sound. They are selfishly doing that, not because they so much love him but for the anticipated support they could get from him to be his anointed candidate. You know our politics is about personal interest,” a chieftain of the party anonymously said.
Corroborating the statement above, another source disclosed that high power play was going on among the chieftains of the ruling party. He said some the gladiators who, at any moment from now, would begin to roll out their posters and flyers to signify their governorship ambition to the people of the state , have begun to scheme and lobby the regional and national leaders of the party for favour. He added that some that are not on the good book of Akeredolu were already lobbying the presidency to prevail on the process of the forthcoming party’s primary in their favour.”
The source stated, “ Some of the APC aspirants who already know that Governor Akeredolu could not support their ambition are not praying for the governor to return to the office now. Some of them are lobbying the presidency, believing the President Tinubu would annoint them to be the candidate of the party. I can tell you that series of political meetings and strategies are ongoing in and outside the state currently “
According to one of the prominent members of the APC in the Sunshine State, some of the aspirants love the Govenor to return, not because of the love they have for him but to prevent his deputy govenor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa from constitutionally becoming the governor, should the govenor resigns.
“ Their thought is that if Aiyedatiwa becomes the govenor, in case the governor resigns, he ( Aiyedatiwa) would be the sitting chief executive officer of the state, they believe he would do everything humanly possible to get the party ticket and eventually win the main election and become the govenor in 2024. So they are using the everything they have to avoid this from happening. They are really playing the game “ the chieftain stressed .
However, the state chairman of the APC, Mr Ade Adetimehin, has allayed the fear of the members and the people of the state, saying the governor is recuperating fast and would soon come back to his office.
Adetimehin stated, “We are praying every day for Mr Governor to be well and to return to his office. If anybody is thinking contrary because of politics, we leave such a person to God. But I believe nothing will happen to Akeredolu. God will spare his life to finish all the good works he is doing in this state. Even after finishing his term in office, God will grant him sound health to enjoy the fruits of his labour.”
