The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has been reported dead on Wednesday as German Hospital following a prolonged ailments of leukemia and prostate cancer which had made him incapacitated for several months.
Penpushing reports that a senior government official in Ondo State made this known, and after a formal announcement of the Governor’s death, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, will be sworn in as substantive governor by the state’s Chief Judge.
The deceased it is recalled went on his first medical leave to treat what was then an undisclosed ailment in June and returned in September, and on return, Akeredolu’s health was still being managed in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State where he intended to continue governing Ondo State, a situation that drew public outrage.
Penpushing further reports that Akeredolu did not transfer power to his Deputy at the time, while his critics accused him of holding on to power even when he was clearly incapacitated, and in December, he commenced another medical leave that was said to be a follow-up to his initial medical treatment.
The late Governor, this time, wrote the Ondo State House of Assembly, formally transferring power to the Deputy Governor in acting capacity, while it is also recalled that his long absence created political manoeuvring that pitched his Deputy against hm.
Penpushing also reports that the situation snowballed into the state assembly attempting to launch an impeachment process against the Deputy governor, leading to a legal battle between both parties,but the chaos recently subsided when President Bola Tinubu stepped in and asked that status quo be maintained with certain conditions.
The conditions include that Aiyedatiwa would not be declared acting governor, in an apparent move to save Akeredolu’s seat, while the Deputy Governor was also directed to submit an undated letter of resignation to President Tinubu, to guarantee that he would not disrupt the political configuration in the state while he runs the government until the full recovery of Akeredolu.
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
