The Ondo State acting Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said, on Tuesday, that the absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who is abroad on medical leave, had not created a crisis in the state.
The acting governor warned falsehood peddlers to desist from circulating unfounded media reports on Akeredolu’s health.
Aiyedatiwa said this in a statement on Tuesday, titled, ‘We sue for continued loyalty, support and commitment to the development of Ondo State’.
He urged the people of the state to ignore any write-up that could cause disunity in the state.
“The attention of the State Government has been drawn to some orchestrated falsehoods, insinuations and negative write-ups, particularly in the print and social media with a view to causing disharmony and disaffection within the polity.
“These tactics of faceless writers and agent provocateurs, are intended to fan the embers of discord, tarnish the hard-earned reputations of individuals in government circles and distract government attention in order to take political advantage in any manner to please their own selfish political whims and caprices
“I like to urge the general public to, as usual, ignore these unfortunate lies and subterfuge as the antics of desperate political gladiators across political divides.
“We assure you that we will not allow this to derail the focus and developmental policies of our administration which Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has consistently pursued in the last six and a half years.”
A media report (not The PUNCH) had quoted the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, as telling party members in Abuja on Monday that Akeredolu was extremely incapacitated.
“We regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the Governor of Ondo state who we understand has been hospitalised overseas,” the report said.
Aiyedatiwa, in response, said, “ Although, some of the commentators expressed genuine concerns as stakeholders based on the provisions of the Constitution, such constructive expressions are noted by the government. This is not to say that we have been hitherto oblivious of the dictates of the law.”
The acting governor, who claimed to have spoken with the governor recently, said the governor expressed appreciation to the people of the state for their unalloyed support for him.
“He (Akeredolu) is in high spirits, recuperating and being expected back in office to continue with his laudable service to the state, as soon as he is certified medically fit by his doctors.
“I have been in touch with him, the latest being on Sunday, 9th July 2023, when he expressed appreciation to me and other State Executive Council members for holding the fort while he is away,” Aiyedatiwa stated.
