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By Iheanyi Chukwudi
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State is dead. He died on Wednesday according to sources at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer.
Though there has not been any official statement from either the government or his family, a family source said he died on Wednesday in Lagos where he was allegedly
managed by State House doctors up to his death because they could not fly him abroad.
The source told newsmen that, “Akeredolu is dead; he died in Lagos. They were looking for dialysis machines to be sent to his secret location in Lagos last week.”
Also a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state said arrangements were being concluded to swear in his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
It could be recalled that the governor’s spokesperson, Richard Olatunde, had in a statement, said that Akeredolu would transmit a letter to the state House of Assembly handing over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the acting governor.
Akeredolu who was said to be suffering from cancer, had been going to Germany to treat the ailment during which he handed over to Aiyedatiwa in an acting capacity.
He went on medical vacation on April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023. At that time, he handed over to the deputy governor. He returned to the country on September 7 and wrote the state House of Assembly informing the lawmakers.
Although the governor returned from a medical leave in Germany in September, he was not sighted in Ondo State as he was reported to be staying in his private residence in Ibadan.
His absence created a leadership vacuum in the state and the executive council was divided into two factions consisting of those loyal to the governor and loyalists of the deputy governor.
The governor in September sacked all the media aides attached to the office of the deputy governor. An insider source said the aides were sacked as a result of insubordination and flagrance disregard to the appropriate authority.
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