Bola Tinubu, alongside other key leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has employed the doctrine of necessity to appoint Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor, conclusively putting an end to the prolonged crisis in the state.
The decision emerged from a confidential meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Friday, attended by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, members of Governor Akeredolu’s cabinet, and lawmakers from the Ondo State House of Assembly.
Governor Akeredolu, who has been on medical leave in Germany since September, has chosen to recover in his Ibadan residence, leading to a five-month-long political turmoil in the state.
The invocation of the doctrine of necessity is anticipated to bring a swift resolution to the crisis, as the Ondo State House of Assembly is set to reconvene on Monday to formalize Aiyedatiwa’s appointment as acting governor, granting him full executive powers to lead the state.
The doctrine of necessity, a legal principle utilized to take extraordinary measures in order to maintain order and uphold constitutional principles, has been previously employed in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Notably, in 2010, it was invoked to address a similar crisis resulting from the extended absence of then-President Umar Yar’Adua, facilitating the assumption of the role of acting president by Goodluck Jonathan.
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Tinubu’s intervention was prompted by growing concerns over the escalating political tension in Ondo State, exacerbated by Akeredolu’s prolonged absence and the power struggles within the cabinet and the legislative assembly.
The high-stakes meeting at the Presidential Villa brought together figures, including the national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa, Ondo State Secretary to the Government Oladuni Odu, former APC national chairman Bisi Akande, Finance Commissioner Wale Akinrinwa, House Speaker Olamide Oladiji, APC state chairman Ade Adetimehin, and members of the National Assembly from Ondo State.
Notably, during the critical decision-making process, the governor’s wife, Betty Akeredolu, and son, Babajide, were reportedly denied entry to the meeting room, underscoring the gravity and exclusivity of the discussions. #Tinubu