RIP Gov Akeredolu: Prostate cancer, leukemia take Ondo governor

RIP Gov Akeredolu: Prostate cancer, leukemia takes Ondo governor

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is dead. The governor died at the age of  67.

Akeredolu died on Wednesday while undergoing treatment in a German hospital.

He passed away around 2am after battling prostate cancer and leukemia, two conditions that had kept him in hospitsl for several months.

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state said arrangements were being concluded to bring his remains back to Nigeria.

He added that his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, would soon be sworn in/

The state government has yet to speak on the matte officially.

Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), won his re-election as the state governor in October 2020 and was sworn in for a second term in office in February 2021.

The governor’s second term, which started in January 2023, was plagued with difficulties ever since he went on medical leave overseas in June.

After spending months abroad, the 67-year-old politician came back to Nigeria in September and settled in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

On Wednesday, December 13, he proceeded on another medical leave and wrote a notice formally transferring power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who later assumed the responsibilities of the governor in full acting capacity.

Following his return to Nigeria in September, Akeredolu stayed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and tried to govern his state from there, leading to public outrage.

On July 9, Akeredolu’s wife, Betty announced the suspension of activities lined up to celebrate her 70th birthday.

The Ondo first lady announced the suspension of the activities in a series of Twitter posts after questions were raised over plans to have a fanfare despite her husband’s ill health.