Opinion: Enough Of These Executive Rascalities By Taiwo Olapade

There are strong indications that the embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa may be impeached this week as lawmakers in the state resume for plenary.

The State House of Assembly had already served an impeachment notice against him based on series of allegations of gross misconduct and financial impropriety.

However, the Deputy Governor who denied receiving any Impeachment notice had also asked the Ondo State High Court to stop the State House of Assembly from embarking on impeachment proceedings against him pending the hearing and determination of the suit he filed in court.

In suit filed at the High Court in Akure on Monday September 25, 2023, the Deputy Governor is seeking a declaration that the House of Assembly is not competent to proceed on his impeachment in breach of his constitutional and fundamental rights to fair hearing.

He also prayed that the sacking of his media aides and subjecting him to the Ministry of Information headed by a commissioner amounts to a breach of his rights and privileges as a Deputy Governor.

Three of the 26 members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have declined to sign the impeachment notice served on the deputy governor.

The allegation of misconduct leveled against Aiyedatiwa was while serving as acting governor that he endorsed the purchase of a #300 million SUV bullet proof vehicle for himself from the palliatives funds released from the Federal Government to the state. However, he debunked the allegations describing it politically motivated.

The case of the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and the enstranged Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu is still fresh in our memory.

Humiliations the Deputy Governor had suffered in the hands of Obaseki clearly buttress the regular saying that the Vice President and the Deputy Governor are mere spare tyres in office.

Is it a crime for anyone to aspire for higher political office just like in the case of Mr Philip Shaibu which landed him into trouble with the same Governor Obaseki that he led a battle for against former Governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomole.

Or should we agree that the law of Karma has caught up with Shaibu?

Nigerians are waiting for the next joker from Governor Obaseki.

The case of the impeached Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, Mr Wale Adedayo also comes to mind.

He has been arrested following petition written against him before the police by the state government.

Mr Adedayo incured the wrath of Governor Dapo Abiodun when he cried out over what he called Zero allocation to Local Governments since the current administration in the state.

However, the state government responded saying the Governor had always increased
allocations to the council accusing Adedayo of being economical with the truth.

Since the President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor contested for election on joint ticket, one wonders why the master-servant treatment between them in most cases.

The time has come for a genuine review of the nation’s constitution to not only protect the Vice President and Deputy Governor as the case may be but to also gives specific roles to perform independent of influence by the President and Governor.

It is expected that the President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor will relate as Siemese twins that is difficult to separate but sadly, the reverse has been the case whenever there is disagreement between them.

The fallout of this usually is the abandonment of state duty to the detriment of the citizens by the time the two elephants in the house continue the struggle for power.

More worrisome is the use of state apparatus like the police and the judiciary to harass, intimidate and even embarras the second in command under the guise of playing to the gallery of order from above.

Who will save Mr Aiyedatiwa from the imminent impeachment because time is running out.