Deputy Gov, 2 Commissioners Abstain As Cabinet Passes ‘Confidence Vote’ On Akeredolu

Members of the Ondo State Executive Council conveyed their appreciation for Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s commendable leadership by passing a vote of confidence on him.

“We have imbibed the principles of good governance, integrity, and commitment from the very best- Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON,” they said but the development has led to a controversy following the failure of the deputy governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and some commissioners to endorse the vote of confidence on Akeredolu.

GWG.ng reports that while the majority of the State Executive Council signed the joint statement, Aiyedatiwa, Commissioner for Commerce Akinwumi Sowore, and Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Rasaq Obe chose not to endorse it.

The signed statement highlighted Governor Akeredolu’s dedication to public service, achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and the notable impact of initiatives like the Amotekun corps on the state’s security architecture.

“Without hesitation, Mr. Governor is a blessing to the good people of Ondo State. His leadership has been rewarding and inspirational. Governor Akeredolu is not only a worthy leader but also a national asset who passionately pursues the welfare of the country. This patriotic leadership is characterized by unwavering courage in leading the people of the Sunshine State toward prosperity and progress.”

“As Mr. Governor’s foot soldiers, we take immense pride in being under his leadership. Witnessing his dedication, sleepless nights, and commitment to protecting and serving the people of the state, despite numerous challenges in the past, is truly admirable. His leadership embodies compassion, vision, and commitment to development, progress, and peace.”

“In Ondo State today, we are reaping the benefits of Mr. Governor’s courage. The Amotekun corps, a product of Mr. Governor’s determination, has become a celebrated innovation in the security architecture of the state and the Southwest in general. Since security is the primary objective of any government, the existence of Amotekun is a testament to Governor Akeredolu’s visionary leadership.”

“We unanimously declare our unflinching trust in Mr. Governor and endorse his impactful leadership. As a united front, we remain steadfast in our support for Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, and pledge to continue working collaboratively towards the advancement and prosperity of the state.”

However, Commissioners Obe and Sowore explained that they were not properly briefed about the decision and, therefore, did not sign the document. Commissioner Obe clarified that he was in Lagos and had not been informed about the vote of confidence, while Commissioner Sowore, who was not in the state, emphasized the lack of an executive meeting and questioned the significance of a vote of confidence in the context of appointed cabinet members.

According to Obe, “I’m in Lagos as I speak to you, I left Akure yesterday to attend a conference and I communicated that to the Chief of Staff before I left. So later they were asking for my signature to be appended to a document, they called it a vote of confidence, and I asked that somebody share a copy with me so that I would know before my signature went on.”

“The person who reached me to send the electronic signature said he didn’t have it, so someone is asking me to drop my signature on a document that I don’t know about at all, so I did not send the signature.”

“No executive meeting was held, nothing like that.”

Also, Sowore said: “The point is that I’m not around in the state, the vote passed by the members of the cabinet in the state in a situation like this does not count because, in the first place, we are the appointees of Mr. Governor, we can’t even say that we don’t have confidence in him, anybody that doesn’t have confidence in government has to resign, so by pushing a vote of confidence, as far as I’m concerned it does not make sense, we don’t have the power to remove the governor as members of the cabinet.”

“So passing a vote of confidence on the Governor in the first place does not add anything to Mr. Governor. So, it is the work of those desperate politicians in the state to create a crisis when there is no crisis.”

“I don’t have any issue with the governor, and he is our governor in the state. In fact, in the first place, they don’t allow the man to rest. There was no executive meeting, the governor is far away in Ibadan, and the deputy is embattled far away in Abuja, so nobody to chair the executive meeting in the state.”

“Even if I was around, I will not sign because I’m supposed to tell them what they are supposed to do for those who are not lawyers. No Exco meeting had been held except during the period when the deputy governor was acting. But since the governor had resumed duty on 7th September 2023, no Exco meeting had been held,” he said in his reaction to the vote of confidence on Akeredolu.

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