Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo governor, dies at 67

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, is dead.

Akeredolu died on Wednesday morning at the age of 67. The governor passed on following a protracted battle with prostate cancer.

Sources in the Ondo state government confirmed the development to TheCable.

On September 7, Akeredolu returned from a three-month medical leave in Germany and set up office in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.

Akeredolu’s return, remote work condition and initial refusal to hand over the reins of power to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the deputy governor, sparked a political crisis in the state.

There were allegations that the governor’s signature was forged by his loyalists in the conduct of government business.

On November 24, President Bola Tinubu waded into the political crisis.

Thereafter, the impeachment proceedings against Aiyedatiwa were discontinued.

On December 12, the governor announced that he was embarking on another medical leave, as a follow-up to his treatment, and handed over to Aiyedatiwa.

“In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in acting capacity,” Richard Olatunde, chief press secretary to the governor, said in a statement.

The Ondo house of assembly finally declared Aiyedatiwa acting governor on December 13.

Akeredolu was first elected governor in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020. His constitutionally permissible two-term in office elapses in 2024.

A senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Akeredolu was president of the Nigerian Bar Association (SAN) from 2008 to 2010. He was also attorney-general of Ondo state from 1997 to 1999.