ILAJE SORO SOKE

08/01/2024

https://tribuneonlineng.com/group-declares-support-for-aiyedatiwa-in-ondo/

The Ilaje Development Summit Group (IDSG) has congratulated the new governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, declaring support for

27/12/2023

BREAKING: Dissolution of LCDAs’ committees, Party, State Excos Loom in Ondo

*As Akeredolu’s Aides tender resignation letters*

Read more https://www.starnews.com.ng/breaking-dissolution-of-lcdas-committees-party-state-excos-loom-in-ondo/

By Starnews NG, December 27, 2023

By: Ade Phillips *As Akeredolu’s Aides tender resignation letters There are strong indications that the Ondo State Executive Council, the newly inaugurated committees for the Local Council Development Areas, and the state executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC), may be dissolved. This co...

24/11/2023

*Title: Analyzing the Prospective Candidates for the Next Governor of Ondo State: Lucky Aiyedatiwa: A Resolute Leader Poised to Transform Ondo State*

*Introduction:*
In the realm of Nigerian politics, few individuals possess the breadth of experience, determination, and leadership qualities that Deputy Governor Honorable Lucky Aiyedatiwa embodies. As the current Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Aiyedatiwa has proven himself as a capable and accomplished leader, earning the trust and admiration of the people. With an impressive track record of public service and a deep understanding of the needs of the state, Aiyedatiwa emerges as a strong and prospective candidate for the next Governor of Ondo State, offering a transformative vision for its citizens.

*A Life of Excellence and Accomplishments:*
Born on January 12, 1965, in the oil-rich community of Obe-Nla, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa's journey towards leadership has been marked by resilience and a commitment to excellence. His diverse professional background, ranging from inventory management and teaching to marketing and entrepreneurship, has equipped him with a deep understanding of various sectors of society and the challenges they face.

*Political Journey and Contributions:*
Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa's entry into politics in 2011 as a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which later merged with other parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC), marked the beginning of his impactful political career. Aiyedatiwa's commitment to his party's ideals and his dedication to serving the people of Ondo State were evident when he became one of the National Delegates from Ondo State at the APC National Convention in 2014.

In 2015, Aiyedatiwa contested for the federal House of Representatives, demonstrating his passion for public service and his desire to represent his constituents at the national level. His subsequent appointment as a Federal Commissioner representing Ondo State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) showcased his ability to navigate complex issues and drive positive change.

*Vision for Ondo State's Future:*
Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa's vision for Ondo State is one of transformation, progress, and inclusivity. With a deep understanding of the state's challenges and opportunities, he has outlined a comprehensive agenda that addresses critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and job creation. Aiyedatiwa's focus on human capital development, quality education, and skills training aims to empower the state's youth to become catalysts for economic growth and social progress.

Recognizing the importance of healthcare, Aiyedatiwa's plans include improving healthcare infrastructure, attracting medical professionals, and ensuring access to affordable and quality healthcare services for all citizens. His commitment to agricultural transformation seeks to harness the state's potential in this sector by modernizing farming practices, providing resources to farmers, and creating an enabling environment for agribusiness, thus driving economic growth and improving the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities.

*Conclusion:*
Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa's exceptional leadership, extensive experience, and unwavering dedication to public service make him an ideal candidate for the next Governor of Ondo State. His track record of accomplishments, coupled with his visionary approach to governance, positions him as a beacon of hope for the state's future. With Aiyedatiwa at the helm, Ondo State can expect a future defined by progress, inclusivity, and prosperity. As the people of Ondo State consider their options for the next governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa's candidacy shines brightly as a transformative force that will uplift the state and its citizens to new heights.

14/11/2023

*ALAGBAKA HOUSE 2024: ILAJE LO KAN!*

It is no longer news that INEC has slated the governorship election of Ondo State for 16 November 2024. Party primaries to select candidates have also been scheduled to hold between April 6 and April 27, 2024. To all intents and purposes, the race for Alagbaka House has commenced in earnest, and names of aspirants are already circulating in social media.

Based on the unwritten rotational principle of political ascendance in the state, it is the turn of Ondo South Senatorial District to produce the next occupant of Alagbaka House. The rotational arrangement has endured over years, and it is becoming foolhardy for any politician to think of circumventing it. In fact, two previous attempts to do so were met with monumental failure.

However, when the six local government areas that make up Ondo South Senatorial District are considered altogether, all parameters of leadership production points at the fact that “Ilaje Lo Kan.”

The claim of the Ilaje to Alagbaka House is not outlandish, and neither is it superfluous. Rather it is borne out of the need to observe equity and good conscience in local arrangement of power sharing. If truth most be told, the Ilaje deserve the coveted seat more than any other group, or any other local government in Ondo South Senatorial District. Candidly speaking, this is not about political geometry and Chomsky’s tree diagram; it is not about inventory and catalogue of past leadership register, even though such exercise would further provide credence to the Ilaje claim.

Today, Ilaje Local Government Area remains the least developed local government area in the state despite the area singularly placing Ondo state on the oil producing state map. The neglect of the Ilaje area, especially in the post-Agagu era, is mindboggling and one can only wonder if recent governors are aware of the developmental challenges, which people of the area contend with on a daily basis.

Could it be a mere coincidence that the governor who has given the most of attention to the Ilaje area till date was one who hailed from the next-door local government area? Governor Agagu (God rest his soul) might have had his weaknesses, but it could hardly be contested that he, at least, had an idea of the most pressing needs of the Ilaje, perhaps because of his closeness to them.

It is only logical then, that the Ilaje, having one of their own as governor of the state, would be assure of greater development attention. They should be able to do more for themselves while equally giving due attention to other parts of the state. The Yoruba aphorism about the madman and the hoe will apply in this case.

I have lived among the Ilaje and will say without mincing words that the rest of the state is lucky to have a group of peace-loving people. If truth must be told, they have been cheated, goaded, and humiliated. Their land accounts for the bulk of resources that accrue to our state. Yet, they have never had any serious say on how the wealth of the state is managed. If they have been like most of the other groups in the Niger Delta, peace would have long eluded Ondo State.

This writeup is never going to be about pleading their cause or acting the meddlesome interloper. It is simply about doing the right thing. The rest of the state cannot continue to deliberately exclude the Ilaje from the top leadership position the same way the Nigerian state did to the Niger Delta until the people mounted violent resistance. It is possible to do the right thing without stretching the tolerance level of the people. Let power be conceded to them in 2024.

If we must be sincere to ourselves; there are fine and brilliant politicians among Ilaje people. The local government has in abundance courageous and well-bred individuals who can turn around the fortune of the state. Here, we are talking about consummate leaders with political connections spread across the eighteen local government areas of the state. No doubt, the likes of Olusola Oke and Olusola Ebiseni can be entrusted with the top job in any state of the country. There are corporate leaders of the likes of Sola Adebawo and Andrew Omomehin among others.

It is never going to be too much to demand that the rest of the South Senatorial District yield the governorship ticket to the Ilaje across party lines. Ikale people in Okitipupa and Irele Local Government Areas should support the Ilaje to take their turn. After all, Olusegun Agagu, the last governor from Ondo South was an Ikale person. While I believe Odigbo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo local government areas also have legitimate claim to the seat, it is difficult to deny their ties with the Ondo people who recently produced Governor Mimiko.

Finally, I need re-emphasise here that when we talk about the governorship of the state returning to Ondo South in 2024, many indigenes of the state are actually looking the direction of Ilaje Local Government Area. We believe it is their turn to superintend over the affairs of the Sunshine State. For those of us who believe in equity and fairness, 2024 Governorship election is simply about ILAJE LOKAN!

Aderemi Ajayi writes from Oda Road, Akure. Comments can be sent to [email protected]

14/11/2023

*Title: Promoting Inclusivity and Unity: The Case for an Ilaje Indigene as the Next Governor of Ondo State *

The power rotation formula has long been recognized as a mechanism to ensure equitable representation and fair distribution of power among various ethnic groups in Nigerian politics. In the context of Ondo State, it is crucial to analyze this formula and make a compelling case for an Ilaje indigene to be the next governor. This article aims to eloquently and convincingly argue for the inclusion of the Ilaje community in the leadership of Ondo State.

*Historical Context:*
*Throughout the history of Ondo State, governors have emerged from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Owo, Okitipupa, Ikere-Ekiti, Akure, and Ondo.* The power rotation formula has successfully facilitated the sharing of power among these groups, promoting harmony and stability. However, it is now time to address the historical marginalization of the Ilaje people and provide them with an opportunity to lead.

*The Case for an Ilaje Indigene:*
*1. Embracing Diversity:*
Selecting an Ilaje indigene as the next governor of Ondo State would be a testament to the state's commitment to embracing diversity. By breaking away from the traditional power rotation pattern, Ondo State can demonstrate its willingness to recognize and celebrate the unique contributions and perspectives of the Ilaje community.

*2. Addressing Marginalization:*
The Ilaje people have long been marginalized in terms of political representation and development opportunities. Electing an Ilaje governor would be a significant step towards rectifying this historical injustice. It would empower the Ilaje community, giving them a voice and the agency to address their specific challenges and contribute to the overall progress of the state.

*3. Coastal Development:*
As a predominantly coastal community, the Ilaje people possess invaluable insights into the challenges faced by coastal regions. An Ilaje governor would prioritize the development of infrastructure, such as ports, roads, and healthcare facilities, in these areas. This focused attention on coastal development would not only benefit the Ilaje community but also contribute to the economic growth and prosperity of Ondo State as a whole.

*4. Unity and Social Cohesion:*
By electing an Ilaje indigene as the next governor, Ondo State would foster unity and social cohesion among its diverse ethnic groups. It would send a strong message of inclusivity, demonstrating that every community within the state is valued and has an equal opportunity to contribute to its progress. This would strengthen the bonds of unity, promote peaceful coexistence, and build a stronger foundation for a prosperous future.

The power rotation formula in Ondo State has been instrumental in ensuring a fair distribution of power among different ethnic groups. However, it is time to address the historical marginalization of the Ilaje community and promote inclusivity and unity within the state. By electing an Ilaje indigene as the next governor, Ondo State can celebrate its diversity, address historical injustices, prioritize coastal development, and foster social cohesion. This decision would not only benefit the Ilaje community but also contribute to the overall progress and prosperity of Ondo State as a whole.

13/07/2023

AMAPETU AND MAHIN PEOPLE ARE NOT IN ANY SUPREMACY RACE WITH ANYONE. WE ARE WHO WE ARE BY THE GRACE OF God .

In response to the unprovoked historical position of one Barr Lade Ebiwano, where he claimed Olugbo became first class oba in Ondo State before Amapetu and also went beyond what he knew in history that Olugbo is superior and paramount to Amapetu, I wish to set the records straight because of posterity.
It was a fact of history that Olugbo was promoted to first class position before Amapetu, but that will never alter the superior position of Amapetu over an above Olugbo if archival documents are anything to rely on. The period Olugbo was promoted to first class was when Mahin Kingdom had no Amapetu on the throne. As soon as Oba Festus Ololajulo Isogun was installed the Amapetu of Mahin, Amapetu was subsequently elevated. How this one will be a controversy is what I can not understand.

WHO IS A TRADITIONAL RULER?

In 1983,the Conference of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria held in Kaduna defined a Traditional Ruler as a person who, by virtue of his ancestry, occupies the throne or stool of an area and who has been appointed to it in accordance with the customs and traditions of the area, whose throne has been in existence before the advent of the British rule in Nigeria. The area over which he and his forebears before him have ruled or reigned must at least have a Native Authority created for it in 1910 or the date of the introduction of Native Authority to the area concern. The text of the lecture that was delivered by Omo N'oba Nedo Uku Akpolokpolo Eredinuwa, CFR Oba of Benin, "titled evolution of traditional rulership in Nigeria", on the 11th September, 1984 under the auspices of the University of Ibadan, Institute of African studies, Ibadan at the conference on the role of Traditional Rulers in the Governance of Nigeria, can attest to the fact above.

EVOLUTION OF THE TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION

Traditional Institution in Nigeria has long been established that its history and roles today are verifiable reality. It is not one based on nostalgic or megalomaniac conjecture or fruitless academic reconstruction.
Kingdoms arose and evolved through several factors that could be war (conquest), intrigues, or as may be requested by the people.

PARAMOUNT RULER

The New Webster's Dictionary of English Language defines the word Paramount as "Supreme in rank, importance," etc
Paramount by Oxord Dictionary means having the highest or jurisdiction, superior to all others.
From the above definition, Paramount is used comparatively as it relates to traditional rulership, which refers to that chief who is considered supreme in rank within a given jurisdiction. This points to a situation where we have more than one traditional ruler in the jurisdiction.
Therefore, a paramount traditional ruler in Nigeria may be defined as the traditional head of an ethnic community or kingdom whose stool confirmed the highest traditional authority on the incumbent in a defined sovereign territory before the coming of the British Colonial Rule and subsequently created into a Native Authority.

EARLIEST RECOGNIZED PARAMOUNT RULERS

In 1900, when Colonial Rule was introduced in accordance with its Indirect Rule Policy, the British Administration carefully identified extant traditional authorities and recognised the most organised and supreme in rank as Native Authority in each of the Districts which covered the present Nigeria Federation and part of Cameron which was then part of Nigeria.
Consequent upon the Treaty of Friendship and Protection between the Queen of England and Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom in 1885, Amapetu was made the Native Authority over Mahin District covering the present Ilaje/Ese Odo Local Government and a Native Court established at Ode Mahin 1914. The Amapetu was formally Gazetted in 1917.
The Paramount Native Authorities were formally enacted into law and Gazetted according to section 4 of the Native Authority Ordinance and published in Nigeria Gazette No. 32. Vol 11 of Thursday, June 26, 1924, as Native Authorities appointed by the Governor, which are not subordinate to other Native Authorities.
The Native Authorities affected in the present Ondo State are:
1. Osemawe of Ondo, Ondo District
2. Abodi of Ikoya, Ikale District
3. Amapetu of Mahin, Mahin District
4. Owa of Idanre, Idanre District
5. Oba of Ijaws(Kalasuwe), the territory of Ijaw Confederation
6. Owa of Owo (now Olowo), Owo District
7. Alonge of Ifon (now Olufon), Ifon District
8. Olukare of Ikare, Ikare District
9. Olubaka of Oka, Oka District
10. Olisua of Isua, Isua District
11. Akala of Ikaramu, Ikaramu District
12. Owa of Ogbagi, Ogbagi District
From the above, a paramount ruler could still be described as a ruler, which existed before the introduction of Colonial Administration but recognised and appointed by the Colonial Governor of Nigeria in a given jurisdiction or District as a Native Authority which is not subordinate to any other Native Authority.

MAHIN EUROPEAN TRADE AGREEMENTS/TREATIES

Trade Agreements/Treaties were signed between Mahin and European powers, notably the Mahin/German Deed of Sale and Treaty of 29th January, 1885, signed at Mahin between Herr Eugen Fischer on behalf of the firm of Gottlieb Leonhard Gaiser of Hamburg and Amapetu Ogunsemoyin of Mahin Kingdom in the presence of the acting Imperial German Consul.
On the 11th of March, 1885, at Mahin, Dr. Nachtigal, on behalf of the British government, signed a Treaty of Protection with the Amapetu of Mahin.

MAHIN/BRITISH TREATY OF FRIENDSHIP AND PROTECTION 1885

Following the Berlin Conference of European powers 1885 scrambling for and partitioning of Africa, Mahin Kingdom, after centuries of existence and extensive socio-economic interaction with the Portuguese, Germans and finally the British, entered into and signed a Treaty of Friendship and Protection at Aboto on the 24th of October, 1885 with the representatives of the Queen Victoria of England
It must be noted that shortly before this Treaty, the British within Mahin territory purportedly signed a Treaty with some of Ugbo chiefs in December 1884, but having realised the error of this Treaty within the sovereignty of the Amapetu, the so called Ugbo Treaty was not ratified.
One important implication of the Mahin/British Treaty was the abolition of slave trade in every part of the riverine area of the present Ondo State. Thus, the British flag staff were set up in different parts of the area covered by the Treaty, including Atijere, Aboto, and Arogbo, all in 1885 to serve as formal sanctuary for runaway slaves. It must be emphasised that the Treaty served as the only basis of British Colonial relationship with the people of the present day Ilaje/Ese-Odo Local Governments determining among other things Salaries of deserving minor chiefs.

MAHIN COUNTRY/DISTRICT ADMINISTERED AS PART OF LAGOS COLONY (12TH NOVEMBER 1885)

The entire Mahin Country and Coast, which covers the present Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Governments, was by a Legislative Order of the Colony of Lagos on 12th November, 1885 signed by Acting Governor Gearge C. Denton and made subject to the laws of the Colony. Consequent upon this, the Amapetu was placed on a monthly stipend of ( Five pound) to be the first Oba to be placed on a monthly stipend or salary in the Southern Protectorate of Nigeria but second to the Sultan of Sokoto in Nigeria.

GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF MAHIN TERRITORY UNDER COLONIAL ADMINISTRATION.

As a result of British Colonial Rule, the traditional authority of the Amapetu was restricted by the merger of part of the Western axis of Mahin territory with the Ijebu. Thus, by the letter of the Acting Commissioner Ijebu Province dated 8th January 1915, the geographical description of Mahin District with Headquarters at Ode Mahin was given as "all that area bounded on the North by Atijere, the Ofara creek, Arogbo and Koko; on the East by the old boundary dividing the old Western from the old central province; on the South by the sea, on the west by a line drawn from a point six miles west of Atijere due to the sea"

AMAPETU AS PRESIDENT OF OKITIPUPA DIVISIONAL NATIVE AUTHORITY

From the inception of the Okitipupa Divisional Native Authority in 1934, Amapetu of Mahin was the president. He exercises both traditional and judicial authority over the entire Okitipupa Division. This earned Amapetu of Mahin a presidential sitting fee of (sixty pound)

AMAPETU IN YORUBA LAND (PELUPELU)

The Amapetu of Mahin was prominent among the Obas in the then Western Region, which attended the conference of Yoruba Obas from 1937 to 1942. The Amapetu of Mahin's name was number 5 on the list of the attendance consisting of 18 Obas at the very first meeting of the Obas (PELUPELU) held on April 1, 1937 at Ibadan
Those who were invited and attended the 1941 meeting were:
1. Olowo of Owo, 2. Oshemowe of Ondo, 3. Owa of Idanre, 4. Amapetu of Mahin, 5. Olisua of Isua.

AMAPETU AND YORUBA BEADED CROWN.

The preeminent position of the Amapetu of Mahin among Yoruba Obas was established in a letter dated February 12, 1923, written by Governor High Clifford to Lord Duke confirming Amapetu of Mahin as one of the few Yoruba Obas recognised to wear the beaded crown.

AMAPETU OF MAHIN'S LEGISLATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTSTIVES GAZETTE No 28 OF 14TH
OCTOBER, 1957 OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA

At the wake of the attainment of self-rule in Nigeria, it required an enactment of the House of Representatives to terminate the 1885 Treaty between Her Majesty, Queen Victoria of England, and Amapetu, King of Mahin, on the payment of a monthly stipend to the Amapetu in lieu of relinquishing his (Amapetu) tax collection authority in Mahin Country and Coast. The enactment, which was cited as "Amapetu of Mahin (Termination of Monthly Stipend) Ordinance 1957" was published in Gazette No. 28 of 14TH October, 1957.

AMAPETU AS PARAMOUNT RULER OF THE ILAJE DISTRICT COUNCIL

Part of Mahin territory was created into Ilaje District Council in 1955, and Amapetu of Mahin made the Paramount Ruler of the District Council. For that period of 20 years of the Administration of the District Council spanning between 1955 and 1976, Amapetu was the permanent president of the Council. Amapetu, for the entire period, earned the highest salary

AMAPETU AS THE PARAMOUNT RULER OF ILAJE ESE-ODO LOCAL GOVERNMENT- 1976-1996

In Ilaje Ese-Odo Local Government 1976-1996, which was a merger of the two parts of the Mahin District, Amapetu was the Paramount ruler and permanent chairman of the council of traditional rulers. Amapetu, throughout the period, earned the highest salary as a traditional and paramount ruler.

CONSTITUTION AND LAUNCHING OF THE COUNCIL OF TRADITIONAL RULERS OF ONDO STATE

The Amapetu of Mahin was a member of the 17-man Council of Traditional Rulers of the old Ondo State when the Council was first constituted and launched on Thursday, 23rd December, 1976, by the State Military Governor, Wing Commander Ita Ikpeme.
The traditional rulers who are members in the present Ondo State and who represented each of the local governments as paramount rulers are:
1. Olukare of Ikare, Akoko North LG
2. Olubaka of Oka, Akoko South LG
3. Deji of Akure, Akure North LG
4. Owa of Idanre, Idanre/Ifedore LG
5. Jegun of Ile-Oluji, Ifesowapo LG
6. Abodi of Ikoya, Ikale LG
7. Amapetu of Mahin, Ilaje Ese-Odo LG
8. Olowo of Owo, Owo LG
Considering all the avalanches of documentary facts, the Amapetu of Mahin and indeed the entire people of Mahin Land have no reason to be in any supremacy contest with anyone. We are people who have no need to be in the public domain every day to blow our trumpets. Whoever is not satisfied with our vantage historical position can go to court.

@ Prince Elias Matiminu*

15/06/2023

13/06/2023

BREAKING: Akeredolu announces medical vacation, transmits power to Deputy

Read more https://www.starnews.com.ng/breaking-akeredolu-announces-medical-vacation-transmits-power-to-deputy/

By Starnews NG, June 13, 2023

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has announced a 21-day medical leave and similarly bowed to pressure and public outcry by transmitting power to his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. This was confirmed by the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Olamide Oladiji through a stateme...

12/06/2023

Ondo politicians cash in on Akeredolu’s ill-health, step up 2024 poll game

Read more https://www.starnews.com.ng/ondo-politicians-cash-in-on-akeredolus-ill-health-step-up-2024-poll-game/

By Starnews NG, June 12, 2023

While the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is battling an illness, politicians in the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition are in deft moves to make political capital out of it, PETER DADA writes. In the past few days, people of Ondo State have been expressing apprehension over....

12/06/2023

THE PLOT AGAINST GENTLEMAN LUCKY (2)
.. _If anybody needed any evidence of the sharp division and hostility within the cabinet of Governor Akeredolu at the moment, it came in the open in Owo on Saturday with the SSG refusing to give space for the deputy governor to sit properly and the deputy governor later refusing to be railroaded into performing a duty he had no prior knowledge of. It was a display of needless powerplay ...

TRACE NEWS MAGAZINE

By: Niyi Akerele A number of members of the State Executive Council of Ondo State led by the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, were in Owo on Saturday for a Mass in honour of the victims of the June 5, 2022 massacre at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo and the inspection of the Memoria...

11/06/2023

*THE CURRENT POLITICAL HIGGY HAGGA IN ONDO STATE WILL STAIN TINUBU'S ADMINISTRATION.........Dr. Akeredolu O.N*

*The newly sworn-in President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, needs to step in and ensure sanity prevails in Ondo State and the entire nation. The people of the Sunshine State voted for him massively in the last presidential election and believe so much in his leadership. Any political upheaval in any state of the Yoruba region during his administration will portray his government in a bad light. The Jagaban of Borgu is the leader of the entire Southwest and the nation called Nigeria. He should do everything possible to stop these desperate entities. We need peace in the Sunshine State, and maintaining the rule of law is the panacea for a serene environment. Ondo State indigenes say no to the political higgy hagga currently being orchestrated by these usurpers.*

The present chaotic political situation in Ondo State is nothing to write home about. Everything is becoming messier, and the people of Ondo State are helpless due to the lacuna created by the whereabouts of Governor Akeredolu Oluwarotimi SAN, which is still unknown, and his failure to hand over governance to his immediate subordinate, as stipulated by the Nigerian Constitution. There is no doubt that the number one person in Ondo State is seriously ill, and we are all praying for divine intervention. There is a provision in Nigerian laws for this eventuality; however, Arakunrin has refused to obey this aspect of the constitution, causing palpable tension in the political atmosphere of the Sunshine State. We wish our governor a quick recovery, but the major problem in Nigeria is that our leaders are too big to obey our laws. No significant development can be achieved in a society where selective judgment is practised, i.e., the laws are only meant for the poor while the rich and people in power can do as they please.

I have painstakingly gone through the responses to my articles, and the reactions of some people show why Nigeria is in this state. The former Nigerian president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who knows the country inside and out, once said that this country can only move forward when citizens hold the leadership responsible for every policy, thereby calling for radicals to rescue the nation. The Nigerian Constitution is what holds this federation of multiple ethnic and multi-cultural people together. Our leaders, in the legislative, judicial, and executive arms of government, swear allegiance to our laws and precepts but often flout them. We are not ready for the necessary changes that our nation needs to progress. One of the erudite members of our country asserts that Nigerians generally like corruption by nature and cry only when they are not favoured by the permutation of this ugly monster. I think this anonymous individual was right in his assessment. It seems that everyone prefers the haphazard situation of the country except for very few reasonable individuals.

The political elites understand the nation and our tendencies very well and use this horrible nature to their advantage. They have received the mandate for the next four years, and most of our honourable members and elected officials will change their residential addresses and phone numbers and become invisible to their constituents until the next election period is around. Most Nigerian politicians, irrespective of their tribes, religions, or party affiliations, understand the nature of the people in the most populated black country in the world and take advantage of the situation for their benefit.

In 2009, Mr Akeredolu Oluwarotimi SAN, then president of the Nigerian Bar Association, suddenly became a national hero following his statement that our ailing Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Alhaji Umar Yaradua, should abdicate power to his vice president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, in an acting capacity. The entire NBA executive ratified his speech and accepted it as the opinion of their association. Life has a way of revealing individual content, as the former NBA leader has now turned into the executive governor of Ondo State in 2023. Considering his acclaimed activism and achievements in the legal world, the Sunshine State should be the epitome of orderliness and the rule of law. However, the opposite is what we are experiencing.

Sahara reporters recently published news about the Ondo State governor, stating that Arakunrin is bedridden and incapacitated and challenged the legality of his failure to hand over power to his deputy governor. In a calculated reply, the media aides of the governor flooded social media with an 11-second video of our governor lying in bed, which was their best response to the weighty allegations against a leader of over 3 million citizens. Since then, there has been no news about him. There are a lot of rumours that our governor has been smuggled back to Germany to receive treatment, while others are saying that the First Lady, Mrs Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, has packed her belongings from the Governor's House in Alagbaka, Akure, and relocated to Imo State, where she is currently residing. These are just a few of the many disturbing hearsays. While we hope for our governor's fast recovery, the provision of the constitution has no room for the lacuna in governance because untraceable looting is possible during a period like this, which some desperadoes can capitalize on to steal from the state.

The cabals have formed themselves around Aketi, playing politics with the destinies of 3 million people residing in the Sunshine State. These popular Owo-cabal members are hell-bent on their plans to cause a crisis by masterminding the impeachment of H.E Lucky Aiyedatiwa. They started with an attempt to install an Owo man as the speaker of the 10th Ondo State Parliamentarians. This evil plan was leaked, and civil society prevailed against the absurdity of having the leader of the state legislature from the same local government as the sitting governor. The aim was to use him to impeach the deputy governor. These Machiavellians have been attacking the deputy governor with false allegations of domestic violence and certificate scandals, just to malign the innocent man. Their primary goal is to retain power at all costs, even if it means sacrificing the health of Governor Akeredolu. The information at my disposal shows that most of them are already lobbying for positions like deputy governor and secretary to the state government, in case anything unexpected happens to Aketi, God forbid.

The newly sworn-in president of Nigeria, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, needs to step in and ensure sanity prevails in Ondo State and the entire nation. The people of the Sunshine State voted for him massively in the last presidential election and believe so much in his leadership. Any political upheaval in any state of the Yoruba region during his administration will portray his government in a bad light. The Jagaban of Borgu is the leader of the entire Southwest vis-à-vis the nation called Nigeria, and he should do everything possible to stop these desperate entities. We need peace in the Sunshine State, and maintaining the rule of law is the only panacea for a serene environment. Ondo State indigenes say no to the political higgy hagga currently being orchestrated by these usurpers.

*Dr. Akeredolu O.N, Leader of Aketi Medical Team (2016), Vice Chairman of the Aketi-Ayedatiwa Medical Committee (2020).*