An Ondo State-based legal luminary, Allen Sowore, has raised the dust over what he described as wicked persecution of the deputy governor, Luck Orimisan Aiyedatiwa by the state lawmakers.
Sowore says all the allegations levelled against the Ondo State Deputy Governor by the state House of Assembly are frivolous and ridiculous.
He says rather than using the deputy governor as scape goat, the lawmakers should be asking questions about the whereabouts of the governor elected by the people of the state who has been hiding the state of his health by staying several miles away from Akure. This has led to speculation that Gov Rotimi Akeredolu is incapacitated to govern the state any more.
“Where is Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the man who was elected to govern the state?” Sowore asked.
It was gathered that the gross misconduct allegation against the embattled deputy governor had been broken down into 14 offences.
Some of the allegations include speaking against the governor’s health, causing division among the state executive members, and misappropriation of funds among others.
The lawyer, in a statement on Saturday, said there was a need for the House to employ fairness and evidence-based approach in dealing with the matter.
Taking some of the allegations, Sowore said, “Allegation one, press release and interview against the governor, particularly as it pertains to his health. Apart from the fact that section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees freedom of expression, where exactly did the deputy governor make unfair comments about the governor’s health?
“The governor has sacked all the deputy governor’s media aides for the same offence, yet there’s no evidence. The action of Mr. Governor in this regard is, in effect, an attack on press freedom. The media handlers of Mr. Governor have not disclosed any information about the governor’s health status and whereabouts to avoid misinformation.
“Allegations two and three. These are the most ridiculous allegations against the deputy governor. If I may ask, which of our laws regulates political conduct? What is causing division among the State Executive Members?
According to him, allegation 10, as it pertains to N500 million for the administration of the local governments was nebulous, vague, and undefined allegation because the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was directly in charge of the administration of the 18 local government areas in the state.
“What about the chairmen who are directly responsible for their respective LGAs? Who initiated the proposal? Which account was it taken from? Who approved it?”, he said.
He added, “Bribery allegations must be supported by concrete evidence, including information on the source, recipient, and circumstances surrounding the alleged bribe. Was the bribe paid directly into the personal account of the deputy governor? Which of the kings made the payment?”
On allegations 12, 13 and 14, he said, “These allegations concern the management of the funds meant for the State Emergency Management Agency, which I’m sure has an executive officer. If anything goes wrong, you have to arrest and prosecute him first. If the deputy governor is culpable or fails in his supervisory role, his offence would be negligence or an assessor. He’s not the principal suspect.
“This is disheartening at a critical time when men and women of good conscience and patriotism should be asking the pertinent question: Where is Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the man who was elected to govern the state?” Sowore said
