By Allen Sowore, Esq.
As of November 7, 2023, it has been exactly 60 days since Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN CON, returned from his medical leave in Germany. The announcement of his return was made by the Governor’s wife, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, through her X page (formerly Twitter) with a simple word, “Homebound,” on September 7, 2023.
His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Richard Olatunde, released a statement on September 8, 2023, confirming the Governor’s resumption of work from Ibadan. However, since this announcement, the Governor has not been seen in Ondo State, the very place he was elected to lead.
On October 24, 2023, four Governors from Southwestern Nigeria, including Seyi Makinde of Oyo, the state where Akeredolu has been staying since his return to Nigeria from Germany, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, and Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, visited the Governor at his private residence in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
To the surprise and dismay of his visitors, the Governor, while attempting to explain, apologized for his inability to return to Nigeria. This led to the muting of the audio in the video released afterward.
Regrettably, the Governor’s handlers, often referred to as the “Cabal,” seem intent on preventing effective governing of the state for their personal gains. Despite his evident incapacity, his signature continues to appear on daily schedules for withdrawing state funds from banks, along with unexplained executive approvals on critical state matters. There is no doubt that this situation is in violation of the Constitution, and criminal activities appear to be ongoing. Urgent investigation and intervention by the appropriate authorities are imperative.
