By Gboyega Agagu (Ondo State Correspondent, in Akure)
Amidst grief and subdued emotion, the acting governor of Ondo State, Chief Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday, assumed the mantle leadership as substantive governor following the death of his ailing former boss, Arakunrin Olurotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
Aiyedatiwa was sworn-in at a brief ceremony conducted by the Chief Judge of Ondo state on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. The new governor faced an uphill battle which bothered on fierce political intrigues over whether or not, he should act for his boss or succeed him as governor.
But he was eventually sworn in as acting governor recently following the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Akeredolu was said to have waged a severe battle against a malignant blood disease known in medical science as leukemia which eventually claimed his life on Wednesday.
But a statement by the Ondo State Government said Rotimi Akeredolu died of prostrate cancer at the age of 67 years old. He returned to the country in September this year from a long medical vacation in Germany.
However, rather than return to Akure, Ondo State capital to resume duty, Akeredolu popularly referred to in political circle as 'Aketi', remained in his private residence at Ibadan, Oyo State capital to further recuperate, but unfortunately, his ailment worsened.
He recently proceeded on another medical vacation after President Bola Tinubu reportedly directed him to formally transmit power to his deputy, Chief Lucky Aiyedatiwa. He (Aiyedatiwa) had been standing in as Acting Governor until his swearing in as substantive governor of Ondo State on Wednesday, December 27, 2023. NNL.
