Much Ado About Akeredolu’s Long Absence from Work

Fidelis David reports that it is over 60 days since Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, left the state to attend to his ailing health as controversy continues to trail his continued absence from office.

Since the governor of the sunshine state travelled for medical leave, the state government and information handlers have repeatedly tried to assure residents of the state and Nigerians that he was getting better and would soon return to the country.

Recently, a 30-second video clip of  the governor conversing in Owo dialect with the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi who visited him in Germany, was circulated to calm concerned citizens but the lawmaker came under fire from Nigerians including an Ondo-born lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, who said the clip was a violation of the privacy of the governor as it portrayed him in a vulnerable state. 

Also, wife of the Governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, after some hours released a photograph of the recuperating Akeredolu captioned “Aketi dey kampe! Victory for us!,” igniting a wave of optimism among residents who eagerly anticipate the governor’s return.

Last week, Mrs Akeredolu, while addressing an audience at the opening of the 2023 BEMORE summer boot camp for 300 young girls in the state confirmed that her husband would soon return from medical vacation.

Mrs. Akeredolu, who quoted a line from R. Kelly’s song, ‘The storm is over now and we are seeing the sunshine’, said: “All will end in praise”, making it the latest of the assurances  that the governor was getting better and would soon return to the country.

Besides, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Richard Olatunde, few days ago stated that the governor is still recuperating in a hospital in Germany.

This came after the governor appeared in a viral video, walking in an environment that looks like an airport, as a helicopter was seen behind him, giving the impression that he had returned from his medical leave abroad, but reacting to the viral video in a statement, the CPS said the video was not recent as it was recorded during the election campaign, adding that Akeredolu was eagerly looking forward to reuniting with the people of the state.

Akeredolu’s Health Travels 

Akeredolu was seen briefly in public shortly after he returned to the state from his 15-working days annual leave on May 1, but his ill-health continued to generate anxiety.

Also, the governor had embarked on a 21-day medical leave on June 7 and  was expected to return home on July 6, 2023  to start performing his constitutional duties after he had written to the state legislature in line with constitutional provisions to proceed on medical leave and  handed over power to his deputy, Mr Lucky Ayeditawa, to act in his stead, as demanded by the constitution.

However on the expiration of the vacation, the state Assembly received yet another letter from the governor requesting the extension of his medical leave but this time, a date of return was not included in the letter.

In an extension letter read on behalf of other lawmakers by the Speaker of the State House, Hon Oladiji Olamide said the Governor’s action was in line with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ( as amended) while his Deputy would continue to act as governor until there was a written declaration to the contrary. 

Rumoured Death

In January, 2023, the governor was speculated to have  been bedridden but his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said Akeredolu was not faced with any life-threatening illness that would have encouraged any alleged conspiracy in his administration

Also, in April 2022, there were widespread rumours that the former NBA president and Attorney General of the State who left the state for Germany on a 14-day vacation  had died in a German hospital.

Before his arrival to the country, the state government had on April 7, 2022, clarified that Akeredolu was not hospitalised in Germany or anywhere, and said the rumours were mere wishes of failed politicians who now carry the burden of uncanny distrust and embedded treachery. 

In order to discredit the rumour, Akeredolu after arriving Nigeria, appeared in a short video, which went viral, singing and dancing to prove that he was hale and hearty.

Meanwhile, Akeredolu was reported to have been allegedly treating an ailment said to be blood cancer (leukemia),  a cancer of the blood caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in the body. It is a cancer of blood-forming tissues that hinders the body’s ability to fight infections.

The Position of the Constitution

No doubt, the Nigerian Constitution is silent on how long a governor could stay away so long as there is a transfer of executive powers to the deputy governor.

Specifically, Chapter 6 part 2, section 190 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) states: “Whenever the Governor transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Deputy Governor as Acting Governor”.

While some believe that all public offices, the office of the governor inclusive, demand occupiers who are sound both in body and in mind, so that efficiency and proficiency will be brought to bear in the discharge of responsibilities of the office, others argued that nobody is immune to ailments, particularly like the case of Akeredolu whose health condition became obvious or developed after he became governor.

However, some residents of the state believe that the recent video by the lawmaker and photograph by the Mrs Akeredolu showed  that the governor has not recuperated enough to resume work, while some believe that there was no need for the agitation over the health status of the governor, because each time the governor traveled either for annual leave or for medical reasons, power and administration of the state were transferred to his Deputy Governor pending the resumption of the governor. 

Mr Adejute Tope cited example of former President Muhammadu Bihari who was away for several times on similar vacations, while handing over power to then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as acting President, in compliance with section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution.

A chieftain of APC in the state who preferred anonymity said the government is running smoothly in the state because of Akeredolu’s respect for the rule of law, stressing that, it is important to bear in mind that the governor  is in a situation that is not his making.