Elder statesman Edwin Clark has asked President Bola Tinubu to invoke the “Doctrine of Necessity” for a resolution in the political crisis in Ondo State.
Ondo has been battling a political crisis for months after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu returned from his medical trip. Since he arrived in Nigeria, the governor has been in Ibadan, Oyo State from where he carries out his duty.
To resolve the impasse, Clark asked Tinubu to follow the same solution used at the national level when ex-President Musa Yar’Adua was away for treatment.
“The ongoing impasse in Ondo State can be likened to what happened when our dear late President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, was very ill and did not transmit a letter to the National Assembly in accordance with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution, to enable the then Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to act as president,” he said in a letter to Tinubu.
According to him, when the crisis deepened, some eminent Nigerians led by a former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon suggested the “Doctrine of Necessity in order to solve the constitutional logjam the nation was facing”.
While the Senate acted on it, Clark is asking Tinubu to follow a similar line, work with all parties to ensure that “the ailing Governor of the State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu should remain in office, while the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, retaining his position, should preside over the executive”.
“That the ailing Governor of the State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu should remain in office, while the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, retaining his position, should preside over the executive;
“That status quo should remain and no member of the Executive should be sacked
That the Deputy Governor should withdraw his case against the Speaker and the members of the State House of Assembly;
“That the Legislative arm should also abandon their decision to impeach the Deputy Governor, and should also withdraw all actions they previously took to counter the Deputy Governor’s action in the State capital Akure.
“However, what is confusing to some of us, is how the Speaker of the House of Assembly told his members that the Deputy Governor is to sign an unwritten resignation letter, without stating what should give rise or what gave rise to that action. And whether the Speaker has the powers to direct such resignation.
“Mr. President I think there is need to act fast because we have seen that despite your good intentions, the crisis is brewing much tension rather than abating.
“There is a growing agitation for and against each of the parties. I listened to the argument of Barrister Kayode Ajulo, SAN, saying that whatever action that took place at the Villa, was unconstitutional and that there was enough provision in the Constitution to resolve the crisis.” the letter partly reads
