Akeredolu Resumes Office, Writes Assembly

Hours after his return from medical vacation, the Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), on Friday said he had resumed work.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Richard Olatunde, Akeredolu affirmed that he was back in the country and that he would begin work immediately.

Akeredolu, who was on medical vacation in Germany for about three months, returned to the country on Thursday and headed to his Ibadan residence. He is however expected back to the state soon.

He is also said to have sent a letter to the state House of Assembly to notify the lawmakers of his return, having written to them before leaving for Germany in June when he transferred power to his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The statement noted that the governor met with political stakeholders in the state at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, including members of the Assembly, led by the Speaker, Oladiji Olamide, members of the State Executive Council, led by the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; National Assembly members, led by Senator Jide Ipinsagba and members of the All Progressives Congress State Working Committee, led by the state chairman, Mr Ade Adetimehin, among others.

The statement quoted Akeredolu as saying, “I came back yesterday (Thursday) and as you know, it was a long journey. I decided that I must meet with you today (Friday). God has answered our prayers, and we give Him all the glory.

“I can assure you that our return is to the glory of God and the prayers of all of you here. And those who wished us well, I thank you very much. God has done what the majority of our people wanted. Majority of our people here knelt down and prayed for our return and we have returned.

“So, because we had to land here in Ibadan first, I said I have to meet with House of Assembly members here. We are here and we are back. I am back, and by the grace of God, I will be alive to complete my full tenure in office. I want to tell you that I am back, and I will resume work immediately.”

The state APC chairman expressed delight over the return of the governor saying, “We have met him and promised to begin work and. Everybody is happy to have him back. I am sure that the state would continue to experience developmental changes,” Adetimehin said.

Our correspondent learnt that he would soon return to the state to resume work next week.

A reliable source in the Assembly informed our correspondent that the governor’s letter had been transmitted to the Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Olamide Oladiji. “We expect him back on Monday,” the source said.

The speaker said the governor had done what was required of him constitutionally, while the Majority Leader, Mr Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, confirmed the transmission of the governor’s letter to the speaker, saying, “Yes, the governor has written to the House and the letter is with the speaker. That means he has officially resumed today (Friday).”

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has condemned the return of the governor to Ibadan instead of Ondo State, saying the governor had relocated the Ondo State Government to the Oyo State capital.

The publicity secretary, Mr Kennedy Peretei, said in a statement titled, ‘Akeredolu relocates government to Ibadan’, said, “Mr  Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the Governor of Ondo State, has continued in his usual lack of respect for the people of Ondo State by practically relocating his government and state Assembly to his residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He added, “The PDP, Ondo State Chapter, expected that now that the governor is back in Nigeria, his first point of call should have been Ondo State, where everybody prayed for his quick recovery and return to his duties. Instead, he headed for Ibadan and all the state cabinet members and state Assembly men joined him. This is very absurd and an insult to the sensibility of Ondo State people.”

PUNCH