Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has been described as not functioning as well as is normal to continue to be in the saddle of Ondo and should hand over to Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, says the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“In the light of this, we implore Governor Akeredolu to safeguard his hard-earned reputation by handing over to his deputy in an acting capacity until he is capable of handling the state’s business,” the party said in a statement signed by chairman Stephen Adewale and issued on Thursday.

According to the party, there has been a vacuum in governance since Mr Akeredolu became allegedly incapacitated. Mr Akeredolu’s sickness has been discussed publicly by his wife, Betty Akeredolu.

However, the Ondo government accused the SDP of “wicked fabrication.

“We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain persons seek to draw political mileage from the disinformation,” said a statement issued by information commissioner Bamidele Ademola-Olateju. 

Admitting that Mr Akeredolu is battling an undisclosed ailment, the statement claimed the governor is not incapable of working.

“He has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the government when necessary,” the commissioner explained.

But the SDP called on Mr Akeredolu to “immediately hand over, to constitutionally delegate power to the deputy in an acting capacity so as to keep the state running effectively.” 

The opposition party added, “And if he is strong enough to preside over the affairs of the state as his people claimed, then it is well past time for Governor Akeredolu to show up and prove the doubting Thomases wrong.”

The SDP stressed that “this is not the time for the ‘governor is getting better and everything is going on smoothly in the Ondo state’ nonsense spewed by APC apologists and many politicians who are abetting the governor to shirk his constitutional responsibility,” declaring that prolonged uncertainty over the administration of Ondo “will cost the state untoward setback.”

“And that is why silence is dangerous now,” warned SDP, pointing out that Ondo is in a “rare moment in time when only genuine, exhaustive, and wide-ranging conversations can save the impending storm.” 

The SDP expressed concern that “a man who once sat atop the highest chair at the Nigerian Bar Association, who actively participated in denouncing an ailing head of state when the latter refused to hand over to his deputy, and who has devoted his entire life to defending the constitution of the land would blatantly and deliberately flout that very constitution.”