Tunji Abayomi, a constitutional lawyer has said Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, would need the support of the people of Ondo State for his administration to really succeed in governing the state.
Tunji Abayomi, a constitutional lawyer has said Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, would need the support of the people of Ondo State for his administration to really succeed in governing the state.
Mr. Abayomi noted that the governor, although not perfect like every other human being, would also need more advice from people if he was willing to leave his name on the sand of time in the state.
He spoke on a political program aired on the state-owned radio station [Orange 94.5 FM] in Akure monitored from Sahara Reporters office.
The constitutional lawyer said Governor Akeredolu who is known for his rigidity on advise also needs correction in some areas of action if he will yield the voice of the people.
“He (Governor Akeredolu) is not a perfect man and nobody is perfect although he has tried and he is trying to do his best for the people of Ondo State."
“Even when I did not support him in the year 2012 because of the way he emerged as the candidate of the party (Action Congress of Nigeria)."
“Now, I know and listened to a number of times he campaigned during the electioneering periods and he has a vision of hope of greatness for this state."
“All we need to do is to pray for him to succeed, and to advise him when it's necessary, to correct him if he's willing to listen and I think he will be willing to listen,” he said.
Abayomi who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state was speaking on the backdrop of controversies that greeted the disputed governorship primary election that had since polarized the governing party in the state.
This same controversial governorship primary election saw to the emergence of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu has the party candidate and subsequently as the governor of the state.
The emergence of Akeredolu, according to Abayomi, through that primary election is a sign of democracy that could be justifiable at anywhere as the people were able to exercise their franchise freely.
He added that the questions raised concerning the justification for the election could only be concluded in a democratic society once the people exercise their right fairly.
“For example, if the people elect a thief and the election was free and fair. It's justified."
“If on the other hand, they reject a good person it is justified but the important thing is that you must ensure that the process is secured."
“So, Akeredolu's election is fair and justifiable and he is a respected citizen of this state.”
He later observed that Mr. Akeredolu might not be perfect in his governance of the state since his emergence, but he is showing enormous strength by ensuring he performs harder than all his predecessors in office.
“He [Governor Akeredolu] is not going to solve all our problems, but we have elected him to solve some of them. "
“I think he should work hard because to me a leader's tenure is defined by increasing the hopes of the people and their well being,” he added.
Speaking earlier on the exit Atiku Abubakar from the APC, Mr. Abayomi said the exit of the former Vice President has no consequences on the governing party as the build-up to the 2019 election gathers momentum.
He said Atiku only defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he formally held sway to exercise his fundamental human right of belonging to any association or group.
