Miracle Akubuo
The governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, passed away at the age of 67 in the early hours of Wednesday, 26th December 2023 at a German hospital where he was receiving treatment for leukemia and prostate cancer.
Akeredolu had been incapacitated for several months due to these ailments.
Aketi won re-election as Ondo State governor in October 2020 and was sworn in for a second term in office in February 2021.
However, his second term was marked by controversy and health issues, leading to his medical treatment abroad.
Facing pressure to resign or hand over power, Akeredolu eventually transmitted power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in early December before embarking on another medical leave to Germany, the second in 2023.
Here are Five Facts about Akeredolu
Born on July 21, 1956, in Owo to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu, he was married to Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, with whom he had four children.
Akeredolu’s educational journey included primary school at Government School Owo, secondary education at Aquinas College Ibadan and Loyola College Ibadan, and higher secondary certificate at Comprehensive High School Ayetoro. He studied law at Obafemi Awolowo University, graduating in 1977, and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1998.
He served as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008 and was a managing partner at the law firm of Olujinmi and Akeredolu.
As the governor of Ondo State, Akeredolu also chaired the Southwest Governors’ Forum and was awarded the Grand Patron of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on February 4, 2022.
Akeredolu’s political journey saw him emerge as the candidate for governorship elections, winning in 2016 and 2020. In December 2023, before another medical leave, he appointed Lucky Aiyedatiwa as acting governor.
