Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been sworn in as the new governor of Ondo State, following the demise of his predecessor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who died at the age of 67 after a long battle with cancer.
Aiyedatiwa, who had been acting as governor since Akeredolu’s departure for medical leave on December 12, 2023, took the oath of office on Wednesday at the state capital, Akure. He was administered the oath by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, in the presence of dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
In his inaugural speech, Aiyedatiwa paid tribute to Akeredolu, describing him as a courageous and visionary leader who left behind a legacy of good governance and development in the state. He said Akeredolu was a mentor and a friend who chose him as his running mate for his second term in 2020.
“Governor Akeredolu was a man of courage and conviction who always stood for the truth even at his detriment. I remember vividly when we had a case in court challenging our second-term victory. He still pursued emplacing a strong security network for the people of the Southwest codenamed ‘Amotekun Corps’. 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 criminalities to the barest minimum, especially in Ondo State. His many legacies in the health sector, infrastructural development, education, industrial development as symbolized in the Ondo-Linyl Industrial Hub, Ore, his innovation in Ondo State Entrepreneurial Development Agency, his Tech Hub, etc will be difficult to surpass,” he said.
Aiyedatiwa, who is the first deputy governor to succeed a governor in the history of Ondo State, pledged to continue the policies and programs of the Akeredolu administration and to advance the welfare of the people. He said he would uphold the principles of unity, faith, peace, and progress that the state is known for.
He also thanked President Tinubu, the national and state leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the elders and traditional rulers of the state, and the people of Ondo State for their support and prayers. He solicited their cooperation and collaboration as he embarked on his new assignment.
Aiyedatiwa, 58, is a businessman and a former commissioner of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He hails from Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Akeredolu, who was first elected as governor in 2016, died on December 27, 2023, at a hospital in London, where he had been receiving treatment for cancer. He had earlier announced his diagnosis in June 2023 and had traveled abroad for medical leave twice that year. He was re-elected for a second term in October 2020, defeating his main rival, Eyitayo Jegede of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Akeredolu’s death is the latest in a series of high-profile deaths of Nigerian governors in recent years. In 2012, Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna State and Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State died in separate plane crashes. In 2015, Abubakar Audu of Kogi State died shortly before the announcement of the governorship election results. In 2020, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State died of COVID-19 complications.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties that these deaths have posed for the affected states, Nigeria has managed to maintain its constitutional order and democratic stability. The smooth transition of power in Ondo State is another testament to the resilience and maturity of Nigeria’s political system and institutions.
As Ondo State enters a new era under Aiyedatiwa’s leadership, the people of the state and the nation at large hope that he will fulfill his promise of delivering good governance and development to the Sunshine State.
Source: BusinessDay
