The return of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, from a medical vacation and his stay at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, has sparked controversy and debates among political stakeholders in the state.
Governor Akeredolu returned to Nigeria last Thursday after a three-month medical leave in Germany and has been staying at his Ibadan residence. This situation has led to a war of words between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the state.
The PDP has criticized the governor for not returning directly to Ondo State, suggesting that he might not be fit for the job and had hurriedly come back to avoid possible impeachment.
In response, the APC accused the PDP of wanting the governor dead and urged the opposition to engage in constructive criticism instead of making baseless claims.
The PDP issued a statement expressing concern about Governor Akeredolu’s absence from Ondo State and questioned the rationale behind holding meetings in his Ibadan residence instead of the state capital where he was elected to govern. They also raised doubts about the governor’s health status, suggesting that he may have returned prematurely to thwart an impeachment process.
The APC, on the other hand, defended Governor Akeredolu, stating that he has been attending to state matters appropriately since his return. They accused the PDP of lacking ideas and being in disarray as a political party.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, denied signing a pre-resignation letter, which had been rumored on social media. Aiyedatiwa clarified that he did not resign from his position as deputy governor and had no intention of doing so. He reaffirmed his commitment to serving his full four-year term, which ends in February 2025.
The political situation in Ondo State remains tense as the governor’s absence and the location of his activities continue to be a subject of debate and speculation among political actors.