“We regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, who we understand has been hospitalised overseas,” Adamu said.
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The dust raised by the letter of extension of the medical leave written to the State House of Assembly by the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is now generating controversies as citizens are demanding to know the true health status of the governor.
Already, there are no fewer than four different statements emanating from different angles including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adamu Abdullahi, the state government, State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, and the State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition party in the state.
Also, the letter of extension of his medical leave to the State House of Assembly which was craftily written did not state how long the extension of the medical leave will last.
It would be recalled that in the Governor’s letter of June 5, 2023, Akeredolu had informed of his proceeding on medical leave and was expected to resume on July 6, 2023.
According to the letter, his Deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, would continue to act as Governor until there is a written declaration to the contrary.
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However, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adamu Abdullahi gave a new twist to the health status of the governor who is said to be recuperating very well in a German hospital. Abdullahi declared emphatically at a meeting of National Working Committee members, attended by State Chairmen that “Akeredolu is in a state of extreme incapacity, hospitalised”.
Adamu stated this at a meeting between the national leadership of the party and APC State Chairmen in Abuja.
Addressing the APC state chairmen, Adamu revealed that Akeredolu was incapacitated and currently hospitalised overseas.
“We regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the governor of Ondo State, who we understand has been hospitalised overseas,” Adamu said. “We wish and pray for him for a speedy recovery,” Adamu added.
In a swift reaction, the Ondo State government described as untrue the statement credited to Senator Adamu that Governor Akeredolu is incapacitated.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, Commissioner for Information and Orientation said, “The attention of Ondo State government has been drawn to a report, credited to the Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on the 11th July, 2023.
“The headline, “Akeredolu in state of extreme incapacity, hospitalised”, bore a tinge of the usual mischievous, wicked and insensitive reportage, sponsored by desperate politicians.
“The Chairman of the APC in Ondo State, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, who attended the meeting, has debunked the report as untrue and totally disconnected from the statement of the Chairman at the event.
“The National Chairman was indeed excited at the reports on the rate of recovery of the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and urged all those present at the meeting to pray for his quick return.
“It, therefore, smacks of mischief and unabashed abandonment of professional ethics for a reporter to present this gross misrepresentation, a mischievous twist, as news. At no time did the Chairman mention that the Governor was in a state of “extreme incapacity”.
“He is, evidently, not in any critical state that should warrant this clearly reprehensible conduct as he still sent a post to the Executive Council Committee platform yesterday.
“Members of the public are advised to ignore this news as the contents therein exist in the realm of the imagination of workers of iniquity.
“Mr Governor is NOT incapacitated. He will return to his duty as soon as the doctors certify him fully fit to do so”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in its reaction urged the State government and the All Progressives Congress APC in the state to come out clear about the state of health of the governor.
In a statement issued and signed by the State Publicity Secretary, PDP, Ondo State, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei said “One is tempted to think that those responsible for the information management of Governor Akeredolu have made nonsense of their assignment, keeping people in dark until a spatula is put in their mouths to speak.
“Even if Akeredolu is “extremely incapacitated”, is it Senator Adamu Abdullahi that should announce it to the world? Who gave him the briefing from which he spoke? What was he insinuating with his “extremely incapacitated” narrative? We leave all of that in the realm of speculation. But we are concerned that the government cannot effectively communicate with the people of Ondo on what is happening to their Governor.
“Talking seriously, the people of Ondo State across party lines are genuinely praying for Akeredolu to return to his desk soonest. Only a few have openly declared that the Governor’s return may be injurious to their aspiration and hence secretly wish the Governor dead. Unfortunately, in spite of medical postulations, only God knows who will be alive in the next minute.
“Those with the correct information about Governor Akeredolu’s health status should not give the public opportunity to draw from beer parlour talks and speculations. The people deserve to know, as they pray for his quick recovery.”
But, the Acting Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has again clarified that some desperate political gladiators are behind the rumoured crisis among members of the State Executive Council.
Aiyedatiwa, in a statement on Tuesday, maintained that he has been in constant touch with his ailing boss, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who is currently recovering from an undisclosed ailment.
The Acting Governor stated that, “You are well aware of the message of Mr Governor to the people of Ondo State in which he thanked the people of Ondo State and other critical stakeholders for their support and loyalty to the State Government
“Mr Governor appreciates your prayers and good wishes for himself and the State, across the board. He is in high spirits, recuperating and is 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.
“I like to also join Mr Governor to express our profound appreciation to you all for your unending show of love, solidarity and prayers for the number one citizen of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, who is always leading from the front and making life more meaningful to our people.”
He explained that there have been orchestrated plans “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.”