Izuchukwu Okosi
Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is currently stricken by an undisclosed illness but his situation is not privy for public knowledge unless the state Governor endorses the release of the information.
This was the submission of the Ondo state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAdemola-Olateju was guest on Arise TV where she responded to questions posed on the health issue of the state’s Governor.
The Commissioner said: “Unless the Governor is incapacitated, there is no need to evaluate his heath situation.
“His mobility is not affected and when you talk about the nature of his illness, this has to do with privacy. I think it’s only Dr Akeredolu that can approve of that.
“I respect the issue of privacy a lot. I know there is a lot of things (that people want to know) but because of privacy reasons, that I will not disclose in public,” Ademola-Olateju insisted.
Continuing, the commissioner agrees on the need to inform the people of Ondo state: “It’s up to Dr Akeredolu to say ‘my people this is what I am battling with.’
“When it comes to expression, things are changing. The governor belongs to a different generation. I am a bit visceral but the generation of my father and the people a bit younger don’t share those perspectives.
The Information and Orientation Commissioner also commented on pressure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Ondo Governor to vacate his position.
“The PDP is doing what the PDP should do. They are in the opposition. They should hold our feet to the fire. I understand that.
“But I want to reiterate to the public that Governor Akeredolu is not incapacitated yet he is not as fiddle as he used to be. And of course the Deputy Governor can deputise. That is what Deputy Governors do.
“And you know the office of the Deputy Governor is a cynosure in our constitution. You so what your Principal tells you to do. It’s a spare tyre position, yes,” Ademola-Olateju stressed.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
