Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has died.
Premium Times quoted a senior government official in Ondo State as saying Akeredolu died at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday.
He died of leukaemia and prostate cancer, two ailments that had made him incapacitated for several months.
Aged 67, Akeredolu returned to Nigeria in September following a three-month medical leave in Germany. He stayed in Ibadan, Oyo State capital and governed his state from there, leading to public outrage and political crisis in Ondo which almost led to the impeachment of his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
However, on December 12, his chief press secretary Richard Olatunde announced the governor was embarking on another medical trip to Germany.
Following a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Akeredolu handed over to Aiyedatiwa.
Akeredolu heads to Germany, hands over to Aiyedatiwa
Akeredolu to remain governor as Tinubu resolves Ondo political crisis
Since then, Aiyedatiwa has been standing in as acting governor.
On July 9, the governor’s wife Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu announced the suspension of activities lined up to celebrate her 70th birthday.
Mrs Anyanwu-Akeredolu announced the suspension of the activities via X after questions were raised over plans to have a fanfare despite her husband’s ill health.
She wrote, “Hello Family and Friends. This is to inform you that all activities lined up to mark my 70th birthday are hereby suspended till further notice due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this development.
“Nevertheless, be assured that I will be celebrated in style upon my return. Thank you for your understanding. I remain Arabinrin a.k.a Ada Owere I.”
