Sequel to the formal announcement of the passing of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday morning, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is set to be sworn in substantive governor of the state by the state’s Chief Judge.
Akeredolu had reportedly died, after several months of hospitalization from leukaemia and prostate cancer.
On December 13, the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, received the medical leave notification letter from Akeredolu for him to proceed abroad for treatment. Consequently, the powers of manning the number position in the state was transmitted to Aiyedatiwa to act as governor.
With the current event, the Barton has inadvertently fallen on him to lead as Governor, in accordance with to the Law.
According to Section 191(1) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, “The Deputy Governor of a State shall hold the office of Governor of the State if the office of Governor becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity, or removal of the governor from office for any other reason in accordance with sections 188 or 189 of this constitution.”
Akeredolu, particularly known as Aketi, died at the age of 67. He was born on 21 July 1956, in Ese Odo, Ondo State.
He had his education at Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola College, Ibadan, Oyo State, and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Education.
Aketi then proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study law and he graduated in 1977.
He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978, and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1998. Ten years later, he emerged the President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.
Akeredolu who was a Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, is also a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria.
He was then made Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006).
On November 27, 2016, he was declared the winner of the keenly contested 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election. He was, again declared winner of the October 2020 governorship election in Ondo State.
Akeredolu went on his first medical leave in June and returned in September this year.
In December, he commenced another medical leave in a follow-up to his initial medical treatment, and formally transferred power to the Deputy Governor in acting capacity.