Ailing Ondo Governor’s Absence Leading To Looting Of State Resources, PDP Alleges

Nigeria's main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Ondo Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu to transfer his powers to his deputy, claiming that his prolonged absence, people within and outside the government are stealing the state's finances.

Akeredolu has been out of the state for nearly six months due to his health condition. He flew out of Nigeria in June and handed over his power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. However, he took it back after returning to Nigeria in September. While the governor is back in Nigeria, he has not yet returned to Ondo. He is now staying in Oyo.

Speaking to the media at the party state secretariat in Akure on Tuesday, PDP State Chairman Fatai Adams said some people are taking advantage of Akeredolu's absence and looting the resources of the government.

"We are deeply concerned about the ruinous cost the health challenge of the governor has bestowed upon the state, the most obvious is the emergence of a cabal, largely informal, that has seized every initiative, mindlessly driving our state into penury," he said, Punch reported.

Adams alleged that "there is no clear leader of government business" as the governor is still not fit enough to run the government. He noted the deputy governor is also fighting for his "political survival, irrespective of President Bola Tinubu's much-proclaimed intervention and our state continues to wander in darkness."

He claimed the government's finances are suffering because of the situation.

"Most disturbing, however, is that our finances are suffering as hard-earned resources of the state are being pilfered by interest groups within and outside government, this is to the detriment of our development and wellbeing," the PDP leader added.

He asked the deputy governor to take over the power and let the governor concentrate on his health.

"This is why the constitution made provisions for a period like this," he added. "We wish to remind Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of his admonition to (the late) President Umaru Yar'Adua when he was ill."

Adams claimed that Akeredolu's doctors have instructed him to stay away from the state and his office as he is not fit enough to handle state-related matters.

Ondo APC (All Progressives Congress) Chairman Ade Adetimehin denied PDP's allegations and hit back at Adams, calling PDP a "drowning" party. Adetimehin said many of the party members have "openly decamped to the APC" and that Adams is making such allegations for "attention."