Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the charismatic leader of Ondo State, passed away peacefully in his Lagos residence early this morning. He was 67 years old.
Akeredolu, fondly known as Aketi by his constituents, had been battling a brief but undisclosed illness before succumbing to it on Wednesday, according to a report from Vanguard.
The news of his death has sent shockwaves across Ondo State and the nation, with tributes pouring in from politicians, citizens, and colleagues across the country.
He was managed by State House doctors up to his death because they could not fly him abroad.
“Akeredolu is dead; he died in Lagos,” the source said.
“They were looking for dialysis machines to be sent to his secret location in Lagos last week.”
The ailing governor returned to Nigeria in September following a three-month medical leave in Germany and only recently proceeded on another one after he was directed by President Bola Tinubu to hand over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
His deputy, Aiyedatiwa has been standing in as Acting Governor.
Born in 1958, Akeredolu was a renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria before entering politics. He served as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association from 2008 to 2010, where he championed legal reforms and advocated for the rights of the marginalized.
In 2016, Akeredolu was elected Governor of Ondo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). During his tenure, he focused on infrastructural development, economic diversification, and security reforms. He was known for his pragmatism, his dedication to good governance, and his commitment to the well-being of his people.
