Tinubu’s intervention saved Ondo from constitutional crisis, says Tunji Abayomi

Renowned Constitutional lawyer and Human Rights activist, Dr Tunji Abayomi has said that the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the political crisis in Ondo State has provided the most appropriate constitutional solution to it.

According to him, what Mr. President has done was the best thing constitutionally and must be commended because he has helped Ondo state to resolve its crisis. He added that it is left for the leaders to put an end to the crisis.

Abayomi who addressed a press conference in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday said the intervention of President Tinubu was timely, adding that the intervention saved the state from lingering political crisis and constitutional logjam.

He noted that the Constitution must have the capacity to deal with changing circumstances in human and national affairs saying “in doing so, we expand out leanings, knowledge, experience and expertise in democratic governance.

“The circumstances in Ondo State present an opportunity to expand constitutional knowledge and especially to confront future challenges.”

He stated that only one governor can exist in a state at a single time.

“The constitution allows only one governor in a state at a time. There cannot be two governors as long as an elected governor is in office,” he said.

He said illness in itself does not remove a governor from office but a governor can only be removed due to permanent incapacity or law through impeachment by the state House of Assembly.

Abayomi who said that the deputy governor only deputises for the governor as the governor’s special representative or agent in extraordinary circumstances, stressed that the executive power vested in the governor by the people resides in the governor.

The legal luminary said the governor can govern the state from anywhere but cannot move government outside the state he is elected to govern.

Citing section 176 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) the human rights activist said the governor has the right to hold office until he dies, resigns, removed or a successor takes oath of office.

Also, he added that “according to section 190(1), the governor can voluntarily cease to discharge the functions of his office if by his own writing and volition he transmits a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office. It is only in that case that the deputy governor can act as governor while the governor is alive.”

He therefore lauded the President for intervening in the political situation in the state, saying that the president’s intervention paced the way for peace in the state.