The Ondo executive council convened its first meeting last Thursday following a five-month leadership vacuum in the state.
The Ondo State Executive Council has declined a N1billion request by cabinet members loyal to the ailing governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, which they claimed is meant for counterpart funding for the State Universal Basic Education, among other items.
The Ondo executive council convened its first meeting last Thursday following a five-month leadership vacuum in the state.
SaharaReporters learnt that the meeting followed President Bola Tinubu's intervention in the prolonged leadership crisis between the State House of Assembly and the embattled Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
President Tinubu, on Friday, had urged the conflicting factions to lay down their swords and restore peace in the state.
Sources said the Abuja meeting concluded that the status quo should be maintained, and Lucky Aiyedatiwa should return to the state to coordinate its affairs, involving all stakeholders in the decision-making process.
“Just before the deputy governor could return to Akure from Abuja, members of Governor Arakunrin's inner circle forwarded a list of candidates for the interim Management Committee of the 18 LGs and 33 LCDAs to the State House of Assembly for screening and approval without informing the deputy governor or considering his nominations,” a source told this newspaper.
SaharaReporters gathered that on Wednesday evening, an internal memo signed by the Chief of Protocol, Bola Alabi, directed the deputy governor to preside over the State Executive Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 30, 2023.
During the Thursday meeting, the Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, and other cabinet members loyal to the ailing governor presented a list of requests, including a N1billion loan request to the State Executive Council for approval, intended as counterpart funding for the State Universal Basic Education, among other items.
However, the deputy governor requested more time and the opportunity to consult with the governor for clarification and authorisation before approving such items.
He emphasised that the reason for this was his lack of authority as “deputy governor,” having been denied the status of an Acting Governor, as stipulated by the constitution.
“Disagreement erupted during the meeting over the formal presentation of the true resolutions reached at the Abuja parley to the State Executive Council, causing a raucous session as members were divided over the interpretation of the meeting's resolutions, each favoring their own narrative. For nearly two hours, both factions insisted on interpreting the resolutions in ways that suited their interests.
“Despite numerous pleas by the SSG and other cabinet members loyal to Governor Akeredolu to persuade the deputy governor to facilitate the approval of the listed items, the deputy governor remained steadfast in his stance throughout, insisting on consulting and seeking the governor's consent first,” another top source said.
SaharaReporters learnt that the meeting ended in a deadlock, with no approval secured for any of the items on the agenda.
SaharaReporters in several reports had stated that Governor Akeredolu had been indisposed for a significant part of the year and his refusal to transmit power to his deputy has resulted in the current leadership vacuum in the state.