Ondo Governor Rotimi Akeredolu dies after prolonged battle with cancer

Ondo State Governor Mr Rotimi Akeredolu is dead

The governor reportedly died in an undisclosed hospital in Germany where he had gone to on medical vacation.

Akeredolu returned to Germany last month in continuation of his medical treatment.

He had earlier returned to Nigeria and settled at his private residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital for weeks before he later returned to Germany to continue with his medical treatment.

Akeredolu reportedly died of cancer of the blood, an ailment he battled with for years.

He had in 2020 diagnosed of cancer of the blood and has been suffering from the ailment since then.

His health challenge became complicated early this year, a situation which made him traveled abroad for medical treatment.

His trip abroad caused serious political uproar in the state as many called for the transmission of power to the deputy governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The situation became worse few months ago when the state House of Assembly commenced impeachment move against the deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa but the issue was eventually resolved through the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Although his death has not been officially announced, a senior official of the Ondo State Government who preferred anonymity confirmed the development.

The Governor’s health challenges became public when his wife, Betty Akeredolu, accused a female member of the cabinet of ferrying “concoction” to her husband as treatment instead of allowing him to receive orthodox medical treatment.

Mrs Akeredolu who trended on the social media over the issue had demanded that her husband be left alone, saying that the family would explore orthodox medicine and not the traditional medicine.

In September Mr Akeredolu was hurried returned to the country in September, following the political crisis which plagued his cabinet as a result of his absence.

Akeredolu was so ill, he could not resume duties in his Alagbaka office in Akure and could not attend to any official duties despite claims by officials of the government that he was recuperating.

All through his stay in Nigeria, he didn’t show up in Ondo State but stayed in Ibadan till he returned to Germany.

There are speculations that the state Deputy Governor, Hon Aiyedatiwa, may be sworn in as Governor any time soon.