ABEOKUTA–According to Section 190(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended), it is clearly stated thus: “Whenever the governor is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office, he shall transmit a written declaration to the Speaker of the House of Assembly to that effect, and until he transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to the contrary, the Deputy Governor shall perform the functions of the Governor as Acting Governor”.
This provision of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) was however breached recently when Gov. Dapo Abiodun left the country for the United Kindgom without handing over to his Deputy, Engr. Noimot-Salako. This action was taken obviously for political reasons. The Secretary to the State Government, Tokunbo Talabi, an appointee from Ogun East was rather put in charge of the state administration, thereby forcing the Deputy Governor to as well jet out of the country.
Gov. Abiodun’s refusal to trust his Deputy with the management of the state affairs while he is on holiday in London has shown that all is not well in the camp of the governor. It is a clearcut amplified action that proved many right of the governor’s perceptions towards Ogun West people especially his Deputy, who hails from Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, representing Ogun West in the government.
This action, aside being a constitutional breach and punishable offence before the law, has also revealed the resentment, disdain and lack of trust of Gov. Dapo Abiodun towards Ogun westerners by considering them NOT FIT to govern Ogun (even for just few weeks of his stay outside the country).
It is a calculated effort to demarket the region ahead of the 2023 political equation, which beams another beacons of hope for Ogun West.
To worsen the situation, the House of Assembly whose members have legal authority to wade into sensitive matters as this and restore dignity by stating each person’s role in a government is also on auto-pilot, as the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kunle Oluomo is outside the country as well. This is unprecedented in the history of the state, it is a new low and one of the many abnormalities in Abiodun’s government of Ogun State.
We must understand that this act of resentment, executive arrogance, mystification, dearth of administrative protocols, and disdain is not only against the Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele alone but also demarketing the entire Ogun west and ridiculing the state before the entire world.
Alao Azeez Adelani,
Abeokuta, Ogun State.
