Ill-health: Deputy Gov, 2 Others Abstain As Ondo Cabinet Passes ‘Confidence Vote’ On Akeredolu

Members of the Ondo State Executive Council, on Thursday, passed a vote of confidence on the convalescing Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for what they called his exemplary leadership.

The cabinet members, who described Akeredolu as a blessing to the good people of the state, noted that his leadership has been rewarding and inspirational to them.

According to them, “We have imbibed the principles of good governance, integrity, and commitment from the very best- Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON. The courage and exemplary leadership consistently displayed by Mr. Governor continue to motivate and inspire us to fulfill our duties.”

However, the state’s Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alongside Commissioner for Commerce, Akinwumi Sowore, and Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Rasaq Obe, declined to append their signatures to the joint statement issued by the cabinet members.

Members of the State Executive Council members, who signed the joint statement, commended the governor for the unprecedented progress under his leadership.

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The statement read: “Without hesitation, Mr. Governor is a blessing to the good people of Ondo State. His leadership has been rewarding and inspirational. Governor Akeredolu is not only a worthy leader but also a national asset who passionately pursues the welfare of the country. This patriotic leadership is characterized by unwavering courage in leading the people of the Sunshine State toward prosperity and progress.

“As Mr. Governor’s foot soldiers, we take immense pride in being under his leadership Witnessing his dedication, sleepless nights, and commitment to protecting and serving the people of the state, despite numerous challenges in the past, is truly admirable. His leadership embodies compassion, vision, and commitment to development, progress, and peace

“In Ondo State today, we are reaping the benefits of Mr. Governor’s courage. The Amotekun corps, a product of Mr. Governor’s determination, has become a celebrated innovation in the security architecture of the state and the Southwest in general. Since security is the primary objective of any government, the existence of Amotekun is a testament to Governor Akeredolu’s visionary leadership.

“Popularly referred to as “Mr. Road” or “Mr. Infrastructure,” these appellations reflect the administration’s giant strides in infrastructural development. Since assuming office, Mr. Governor has demonstrated a clear passion and dedication to bridging infrastructural gaps in the state.

“Having worked closely with the Governor, we commend his dedication to public service and achievements in infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and various sectors that have positively impacted the lives of Ondo State people.

“We unanimously declare our unflinching trust in Mr. Governor and endorse his impactful leadership. As a united front, we remain steadfast in our support for Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and pledge to continue working collaboratively towards the advancement and prosperity of the state.”

But, in their separate reactions to the development and explaining their refusal to append their signatures, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Rasaq Obe, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Akinwumi Sowore, said they were not properly briefed about the decision.

According to Obe, “I’m in Lagos as I speak to you, I left Akure yesterday to attend a conference and I communicated that to the Chief of Staff before I left. So later they were asking for my signature to be appended to a document, they called it a vote of confidence and I asked that somebody share a copy with me so that I would know before my signature went on.

“The person who reached me to send the electronic signature said he didn’t have it, so someone is asking me to drop my signature on a document that I don’t know about at all, so I did not send the signature.

“No executive meeting was held, nothing like that.”

Also, Sowore said: “The point is that I’m not around in the state, the vote passed by the members of the cabinet in the state in a situation like this does not count, because, in the first place we are the appointees of Mr. Governor, we can’t even say that we don’t have confidence in him, anybody that doesn’t have confidence in government has to resign, so by pushing vote of confidence as far as I’m concerned it does not make sense, we don’t have the power to remove the governor as members of the cabinet.

“So passing a vote of confidence on the Governor in the first place does not add anything to Mr. Governor. So, it is the work of those desperate politicians in the state to create a crisis when there is no crisis.

“I don’t have any issue with the governor, and he is our governor in the state. In fact, in the first place, they don’t allow the man to rest. There was no executive meeting, the governor is far away in Ibadan and the deputy is embattled far away in Abuja, so nobody to chair the executive meeting in the state.

“Even if I was around, I will not sign because I’m supposed to tell them what they are supposed to do for those who are not lawyers. No Exco meeting had been held except during the period when the deputy governor was acting. But since the governor had resumed duty on 7th September 2023, no Exco meeting had been held.”