Society Gists

What is happening in Ondo State has further revealed the kind of weak democracy practised in Nigeria. The Ondo State House of Assembly last week commenced the process to sack the state’s Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

So far, no fewer than 23 lawmakers have been said to have already appended their signatures in support of the impeachment notice.

Though the specific allegations or offences listed in the impeachment notice are yet to be made public as of press time, a source disclosed that the deputy governor was under investigation for alleged gross abuse of office, when he was acting governor.

Gross abuse constitutes an impeachable offence and this might provide a solid ground for the assembly to remove Aiyedatiwa’s removal from office.

According to the source, trouble started when Aiyedatiwa reportedly approved the sum of N300 million for the purchase of a bulletproof SUV for his personal use. The approval for the purchase of the vehicle was allegedly given while the state governor was recuperating in Germany, and it was approved without the knowledge of the governor.

The source said the deputy governor further complicated matters when he ordered that the N300 million should be sourced from the palliative fund.

But from what was gathered from the supporters of the deputy governor, his alleged offence is his rumoured ambition to succeed Governor Rotimi Akeredolu by the time his tenure expires in 17 months’ time. Even though election is not expected until the second half of 2024, political alignment and realignment have commenced.

There are others who also feel that should the governor not survive his ailment, the deputy governor, who is constitutionally required to succeed him, should not step in.

This is against the backdrop of the fact that since the governor returned from his medical vacation in Germany over two weeks ago, he has been governing the state from Ibadan, Oyo State, fuelling speculations that he has not fully recovered from his ailment.

For this reason, the deputy governor must be stopped at all cost before it becomes too late.

In countries where democracy is being practised, a deputy governor shouldn’t be persecuted on account of his ambition. But this is not the case with Nigeria where state lawmakers are rubber stamps and political tools in the hands of governors.