• Commissioner confirms Governor is indisposed
• PDP demands his whereabouts, tells him to resign
Following the rumoured death of the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the state government, yesterday, urged the public to dismiss such as false.
A statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, said the “governor is alive and has been attending to state matters, as well as delegating state functions.”
Ademola-Olateju said that the clarification became imperative due to how the development had created tension in the state and across the country.
She said: “We have been inundated with calls and messages concerning the state of health of Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN). We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain people sought to draw political mileage from the disinformation.
“Though the governor has been indisposed, he has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the government when necessary.
“We enjoin the public to ignore the rumour. Aketi is very much alive.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ondo State chapter, has called for Akeredolu’s resignation and advised that he should hand over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Its Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, in a statement, emphasised that “the handlers and managers of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), have proved that they are not on top of their assignments. They rather take everyone in the state for granted.
“While praying for the governor’s quick recovery, the party said his aides must disclose where he has been to fray nerves in the state.”
Peretei disclosed that Akeredolu has, for a while, been absent at national events, a situation the party said called for concern.
“The deafening silence from government information machinery suddenly saturated social media space with old videos of Akeredolu dancing and singing praises.
“These speculations almost put the state on edge until this morning when the Ondo State House of Assembly retained the present power structure of the Speakership of the Assembly in Ondo Central Senatorial District.
“If Akeredolu’s handlers had done the needful, the state would have been spared the unnecessary anxiety.
“As mortals, any human being can fall sick. Whether in public office or private life, Rotimi Akeredolu is employed by the people of Ondo State and maintained with taxpayers’ money. So, it is criminal and a great disservice to keep numb over his health status and his whereabouts.
“ The PDP, Ondo State chapter demands that those hiding the governor should tell the people where he is to save the state from speculation.
“Our party joins millions of Ondo State people in praying for Akeredolu’s quick recovery, but nobody should play politics with his ill-health. Nobody should ground the state beyond its present state. Let Akeredolu resign, if he is no longer fit to be governor.”
