PDP Govs Task FG, INEC, Security on Guber Polls in Imo, Bayelsa, Kogi

•Party mocks APC over contradictory stance on Ondo gov’s health 

•Akeredolu not incapacitated, state govt replies Adamu 

•Acting gov pledges loyalty to ailing principal

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

Peoples Democratic party (PDP) governors, yesterday, at their inaugural meeting, tasked the federal government, security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in the off-season governorship elections due for later in the year.

This was as the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo State, has said the conflicting  responses from the state government and the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s Ill-health status, has  proved clearly that there was a disconnect between the national leadership and the party in the State.

At the same time, the Ondo State Government has dismissed  report that Akeredolu (SAN) was in a state of extreme incapacity as claimed by Adamu.

Also, the Acting Governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reiterated his loyalty to Akeredolu, whose ill-health has continued to generate anxiety in the state and country.

However, the governors at their meeting also pledged to cooperate with the federal government in tackling cases of insecurity in Plateau and Zamfara States.

Kogi,  Imo and Bayelsa states are billed to have three off-season governorship elections on November 11 this year.

Reading the communiqué of their meeting, Chairman of the PDP governors, Governor Bala Mohammed of Baluchi State said the governors also pledged to remain united and focus on issues that would develop and unite the party.

“The meeting resolved to work together and unite the Forum. The aim of the Forum is to provide a platform for peer review of issues, policies, programmes and achievements (legacy projects) of member-governors across the PDP states.

”The meeting advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, and the federal government to be neutral in the conduct of the off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo States.

“The meeting noted the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially, the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Plateau and Zamfara States amongst other states.

“The meeting consequently advised the federal government and security agencies to rise to the situation and bring the situation under control.

“In the interim, the Forum would cooperate with the federal government on issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians and good governance while striving to maintain the independence and autonomy of the Forum through offering constructive criticisms where necessary,” he said.

Mohammed said they would support the party to remain focus on all issues as well as make the party united. He said the governor of Rivers State, and deputy chairman of the forum, Sim Fubara, took excuses that he would not attend the meeting because of pressing state issues.

Twelve out of 13 governors attended the meeting that took place at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s Lodge.

PDP Mocks APC over Conflicting Responses on Ondo Gov

The Peoples Democratic Party, Ondo State chapter, has said the conflicting  responses from the state government and the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s Ill-health, has  proved that there was a disconnect between the national leadership and the party in the state.

Adamu, the National Chairman APC, had at a meeting between the national leadership of the party and APC state chairmen reportedly declared that Akeredolu was extremely incapacitated and hospitalised.

However, a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, described the report as malicious, and designed to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

But the Publicity Secretary of PDP in the state, Kennedy Ikantu Peretei said Adamu declaration gave a new twist to the health status of Governor Akeredolu.

“National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adamu Abdullahi gave a new twist to the health status of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, 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.’

“In a swift reaction, the Ondo State Chairman of APC,  Ade Adetimehin, who personally attended the meeting has dismissed the report, describing it as wicked, insensitive and false. Ondo State Commissioner for Information, tagged the story as being peddled by rumour mongers.

“Abdullahi’s opinion on Akeredolu’s health has merely added petrol to a raging fire in Ondo State. The responses from Ondo government and APC proved clearly that there is a disconnect between the national leadership and the party in the Sunshine State. A disconnect that is evident in the appointments made so for far by the Bola Tinubu’s administration in which Ondo State is completely missing.” Peretei said.

Akeredolu Not Incapacitated Ondo Govt Replies Adamu

The Ondo State Government has also dismissed  report that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) was incapacitated.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, described the report as malicious, designed to mislead unsuspecting members of the public.

Titled, Re: “Akeredolu in State of Extreme Incapacity, Hospitalised” the statement read: “The attention of Ondo State government has been drawn to a report, credited to the Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, in 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,” he said, urging members of the public to ignore the news as the report existed in the realm of the imagination of workers of iniquity.

Ondo Acting Gov Expresses  Loyalty to Ailing Akeredolu

Ondo State Acting Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday,  reiterated his loyalty to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), whose ill-health has continued to generate anxiety.

Akeredolu, had on Monday forwarded a letter of extension of his medical leave to the state House of Assembly, which he started on June 7, 2023 and directed his Deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa  to act as governor.

However, the acting governor, in a message to residents in the State, titled: “We Sue For Continued Loyalty, Support And Commitment To The Development Of Ondo State”, said  the orchestrated falsehoods, insinuations and negative write-ups, were meant to cause disharmony and disaffection within the polity.

“Once again, it has become imperative to address you, the good people of Ondo State and to appreciate you all for your consistent support and solidarity to the State Government, especially at this time.

“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.”