The dramatic form of tragedy and the finality of death again threw the polity off balance on Wednesday amid the Yuletide celebrations when reports filtered in during the day of the passing of the Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The ominous reality of death’s lesson was further brought to the front burner when at exactly 5:15p.m. yesterday, the embattled acting governor of Ondo, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was sworn in as the seventh civilian governor of the state, with death having appeared to have finally settled the scores between him and his boss, Akeredolu.
After surviving an intricate impeachment plot and having forced President Bola Tinubu’s intervention to activate the ‘doctrine of necessity’ twice before power was transmitted to him, thus enabling him to transmute from deputy governor to acting governor, a somber and queer kind of ‘luck’ smiled on Lucky Aiyedatiwa when the oath of office was administered on him by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, proclaiming him Ondo State governor, following the death of Akeredolu after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer.
In his acceptance speech, Aiyedatiwa said he was sad over the death of his principal. “It is with heavy heart that I accept this onerous responsibility of taking over the reins of governance and affairs of our state following the unfortunate loss and passing of our beloved governor, leader and dear boss, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON.
“The death of our governor is indeed a devastating shock to us all, as we have all been praying earnestly for his quick recovery and subsequent safe return to Ondo, having embarked on another medical leave on Wednesday, December 13. Indeed, there is no armour against fate, death lays his icy hand on kings,” he said.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa (right) being sworn in by the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office…yesterday.
Aiyedatiwa commiserated with the immediate and extended family of Akeredolu, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Olowo of Owo, the people of Owo and indeed the entire people of Ondo State over the monumental loss.
He also described the deceased as a man of courage who always stood with the truth, even to his own detriment, especially on national issues, some of which sometimes made him square up against the Federal Government as the chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, like his campaign against RUGA, clamour for return of presidency to Southern Nigeria in 2023, instituting Amotekun and federalism issues like arming state security apparatus.
Aiyedatiwa said the people of Ondo and the entire Southwest would not forget in a hurry the creation of Amotekun that checked banditry and kidnapping in the region. The new governor said his responsibility was to complete the landmark projects that his boss had started.
“The demise of Akeredolu is indeed a great loss to me as an individual, as our relationship dates back many years, having closely worked with him when his gubernatorial journey started in 2012.
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‘The loss of the election then did not affect our relationship as we continued to maintain close political and personal relationships, which climaxed in 2020 when he graciously picked me as his running mate for his second term as governor.
‘Governor Akeredolu was a man of courage and conviction who always stood for the truth, even at his own detriment. I remember vividly the time when we had a case in court challenging our second-term victory. He still pursued the matter of emplacing a strong security network for the people of the Southwest, codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’ vigorously.
‘The people of Ondo State and the entire people of the Southwest will be eternally grateful for this bold act, which has greatly improved the security architecture in the region and reduced incidents of kidnapping, banditry, and other acts of criminality to the barest minimum, especially in Ondo.’
Aiyedatiwa further declared three days of mourning in the state and ordered that the national flag in all establishments in the state should fly at half-mast.
Yesterday’s transition was the culmination of the long-standing feud and cold war between Aiyedatiwa and Akeredolu, which came to light earlier this year during the first long spell of Akeredolu’s medical vacation.
As a consequence of the transition, several of Akeredolu’s close aides have announced their resignations.
With Aiyedatiwa’s swearing in, the dust may have finally settled over the political crisis that rocked Ondo in the last few months, especially after Akeredolu’s return from his medical vacation in September.
After the return of Akeredolu, who stayed in his Ibadan residence in the Oyo State capital, Aiyedatiwa was faced with impeachment threats following allegations of gross misconduct leveled against him by the Ondo State House of Assembly.
The impeachment proceedings against Aiyedatiwa were, however, stalled by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, who cited an existing ex-parte order against his reasons for setting up a seven-man impeachment panel.
Akeredolu, 67, who embarked on his fifth medical vacation on December 12 since his assumption of office about seven years ago, was said to have been given a January 2024 terminal prognosis by his doctors.
The source said: “Aketi (Akeredolu) has for a while been diagnosed with prostate, even before he became governor. He has been managing it, but the situation became aggravated towards the tail end of his first term.
“Initially, we thought that he would survive it, but it dawned on us that the end might be near when he went on his medical vacation on July 10, 2023.
Read Also: Governor Akeredolu Of Ondo State Passes Away At 67
“Then, we had thought that he might not come back again, but he made it, which gave us hope that God’s miracle is at work. But with what happened today, it is shocking.”
While confirming the death of the governor, the state government, through the Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, described the demise as a weight of unbearable loss, adding that Akeredolu was an advocate for the entire Southwest and the nation, as well as a courageous leader and an exemplar of integrity.
In the statement, it was, however, not stated when the body of the governor will be arriving in the state for funeral.
In a statement made available to The Guardian, Ademola-Olateju said: “With a heavy heart, the Ondo State Government announces the tragic passing of our beloved governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
“Mr. Governor peacefully departed from this world in the early hours of today, Wednesday, December 27, 2023. This tragedy has left behind a profound void in our hearts. Governor Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany. He succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.
“A letter has been sent to President Bola Tinubu, to officially inform His Excellency of this devastating news. The family and the Ondo State Government appreciate Mr. President for his support for Governor Akeredolu during his illness. The family and the state government will release further details regarding the funeral arrangements.
“Governor Akeredolu was an extraordinary leader whose unwavering dedication to the state and its people was both commendable and unparalleled. He not only served as the Governor of Ondo State but also emerged as a prominent advocate for the entire Southwest region and the nation. Governor Akeredolu was a courageous leader and an exemplar of integrity. The weight of this loss is truly unbearable.
“However, we find solace in the knowledge that Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu lived a purposeful life, devoted to the service of God Almighty.”
Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), won his re-election as the state governor in October 2020 and was sworn in for a second term in office in February 2021.
Before his demise, Akeredolu had two weeks ago transferred power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to act pending his arrival from medical vacation.
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday mourned the death of Akeredolu, vowing to honour his memory and make sure that the legacy of service left by the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is never forgotten.
Describing him in a moving tribute as a fearless leader who sought equity and fairness for all citizens while advocating a rejig of the country’s security architecture in order to have a more secure nation, President Tinubu said ‘It is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul. It is a more difficult job in our African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person.
‘Here am I having the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate, and the Executive Governor of Ondo State.
‘It is an impossible task to fully capture in words Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence. Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a senior advocate, attorney-general of his beloved state, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.
‘In a challenging moment of our statehood when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in the wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture so we can have a more secure nation. His unrelenting advocacy led to the birth of the local police in the Southwest.
‘Rotimi was a man of ideas and action. While he was with us, he taught us the power of action and service. In Ondo State, where he had the honour to serve as the Governor over the past six years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication, and forthrightness. His footprints dot the entire landscape of the state through the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many schools he built, and healthcare facilities that he provided.
‘During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the state and killed defenceless citizens where 40 worshippers of the Catholic Church of Owo were killed on June 5, 2022, Rotimi’s leadership qualities as a true statesman and compassionate leader radiated brightly to the world. He was a mourner-in-chief who guided his people through an agonising period. Today, I mourn a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses.
‘My personal journey with Rotimi started as joint members of the progressive family. We fought many battles together to restore progressive governance in the South West, Edo State, and Nigeria as a whole.
‘During this uncertain period, Rotimi was resolute and unflinching. He showed uncommon courage as a member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, and Osun States. A gallant lawyer and one of the finest of the legal profession.
“I beckoned him to contest for the governorship position of Ondo State in 2012. Even though he did not make it in his first attempt, his enthusiasm and determination to serve his people never diminished. He eventually made it to the Alagbaka Government House in his second attempt in the 2016 election. Since he was sworn-in in February 2017, he had served the people with devotion.
‘Rotimi has played his role well and left us untimely. We will never see his likes again. Let me tell the people of Ondo State that I am grieving with you. We will honour Rotimi’s memory and make sure his legacy of service is never forgotten.”
Continuing, President Tinubu said, ‘In my grief and sadness, I have telephoned his wife, Betty, and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to commiserate with them and urge them to take heart over this national tragedy.
‘Governor Akeredolu was not just a friend and associate, the departed leader was a brother and a soulmate.
‘His death is a blow to our governing APC and the progressive family as we are diminished by it. I hope that his successor Aiyedatiwa will hold steadfast to the vision of governance left by this towering political leader.’
Also, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has said the late Akeredolu will forever be remembered as a hero. The forum in a statement by its chairman, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, in Abuja, commiserated with the family of Akeredolu on his demise.
AbdulRazaq said that Aketi as the late governor was fondly called, was loved by many, a true believer in justice and fairness – a course he towed dearly to the very end.