Aiyedatiwa Sworn In as Ondo State Governor Following Akeredolu’s Passing
In a solemn ceremony held at the Cocoa Conference Hall within the governor’s office in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State, Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was officially sworn in as the governor of the Sunshine State. The event, administered by Chief Judge Justice Olusegun Odusola, took place at 5:18 pm.
Expressing his emotions, Governor Aiyedatiwa remarked, “It is with a heavy heart that I accept this honorous responsibility of taking over the reins of governance and affairs of our state after the unfortunate loss and passing of our beloved governor and leader, and my dear principal, Arakurin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.”
Among those present to witness the swearing-in were various judges, and top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government and members of the state cabinet, the State All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, and members of the State House of Assembly.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s ascension to the position followed the demise of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu earlier on Wednesday. Akeredolu, who had been grappling with health challenges, ultimately succumbed to prostate cancer while receiving treatment in Germany.
The journey to Aiyedatiwa’s governorship was protracted, spanning a year, during which he faced an impeachment plot by Akeredolu’s allies in the Ondo State House of Assembly and staunch opposition from the late governor’s loyalists. The political landscape in the state had been shrouded in controversy in recent months, with activists and constitutional lawyers urging Akeredolu to follow the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and transmit power to Aiyedatiwa.
Governor Akeredolu, aged 67 and in his second term before his passing, underwent multiple medical treatments abroad. On December 13, 2023, he transmitted power to Aiyedatiwa as he embarked on a fresh medical trip overseas, marking his second such journey in 2023. Unfortunately, Governor Akeredolu, unable to return to Nigeria, succumbed to complications arising from prostate cancer on December 27, 2023.
