11th December, 2023
Elder statesman and former federal commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Clark on Sunday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene to defuse the tension building up over struggles for power between supporters of ill Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Clark, in a statement on Sunday, said the President must intervene fast to prevent must intervene fast to prevent tension over power struggle in the state from degenerating into another security crisis for the country.
He noted that Tinubu’s previous intervention failed to nip the crisis in the bud, going by current action of the State House of State Assembly.
“Mr. President, I wish to state that we have enough insecurity in the country, which has largely stretched our security forces. This is why you must urgently and firmly act in the current situation in Ondo State, under a doctrine of necessity.
He likened the situation in Ondo State to that of late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and the Vice President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010 and therefore asked the president to adopt the doctrine of necessity used to resolve the crisis then.
Commending the President for his earlier intervention in the crisis, “both as President of the country and as leader of your political party, the APC,” Clark lamented that every facet of the state has remained divided over the lingering impasse.
“However, what is confusing to some of us, is how the Speaker of the House of Assembly told his members that the Deputy Governor is to sign an unwritten resignation letter, without stating what should give rise or what gave rise to that action. And whether the Speaker has the powers to direct such resignation,” Clark said.
“President I think there is a need to act fast because we have seen that despite your good intentions, the crisis is brewing much tension rather than abating. There is a growing agitation for and against each of the parties.”
Clark further cited claims by Kayode Ajulo and the Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources alleging that the governor’s signature was forged on an official document.
While acknowledging that the Ondo state Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju and the State Attorney General, Mr. Charles Titiloye have dispelled the claims on forgery of the Governor’s signature, Clark noted that the issue is building up tension in the state.
Clark said, “Like I stated earlier, this matter is building up tension. It is, therefore, my opinion that Mr. President, as leader of his ruling APC political party, may want to amend his earlier terms of settlement.
“And since there is no constitutional provision for such quagmire, because under Section 5 (2) of the Constitution, the State Governments are autonomous and are not subsidiaries of the central government.”
He added they “are fully in-charge of their State. It is only the National Assembly that is empowered to do so under Chapter 1, Part 2, Section 4 Legislative Power.”
“Let me add that beyond any constitutional provision and your leadership of your political party, the APC, it is Your Excellency’s moral obligation as father of the country to use your good office to intervene and resolve all manners of political crisis around the country.
“The action of the Ondo State House of Assembly by going to court to prevent the National Assembly from interfering in the matters of the State House of Assembly is also escalating the issues.
“Every facet of Ondo State is currently sharply divided; the executive and legislative arms all have people either supporting the Governor or the Deputy Governor,” he said.