The Ondo state is currently in the midst of a leadership crisis, and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, has written an open letter to President Bola Tinubu to address the situation. Clark is urging Tinubu to utilize the “Doctrine of Necessity” as a means of resolving the crisis in Ondo State.
The state has been embroiled in a political crisis following the return of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from a medical trip. Akeredolu has been governing the state from Ibadan, Oyo State capital, since his return, sparking concerns about his health and leading to a state of political turmoil.
In his open letter to President Tinubu, Clark invoked the example of the national level crisis during ex-President Musa Yar’Adua’s absence and the subsequent use of the Doctrine of Necessity to resolve the situation. He emphasized the necessity for swift action in light of the growing tensions surrounding the crisis in Ondo State.
Clark’s letter provided a detailed historical account of the application of the Doctrine of Necessity in resolving constitutional logjams and urged President Tinubu to intervene and resolve the political crisis in Ondo State. He also highlighted the escalating tensions and factional divisions within the state’s executive and legislative arms, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the situation.
The letter concluded with a plea for President Tinubu’s intervention in Ondo State, appealing to his moral obligation as the leader of the ruling APC party and as a father figure to the nation. Clark conveyed his intention to address a separate letter to President Tinubu regarding the situation in Rivers State.
In addition to the Ondo crisis, Clark also expressed concerns about the prevailing insecurity in the country, emphasizing the need for decisive action to address the crisis in Ondo State under a doctrine of necessity.
The open letter from Chief Edwin Clark underscores the gravity of the situation in Ondo State and the urgent need for intervention to address the political crisis. It appeals to President Tinubu to take decisive action in utilizing the Doctrine of Necessity to resolve the impasse and restore stability to the state.