Lagos, Dec. 27, 2023 – Rotimi. Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State, is dead.
He died at 67.
Akeredolu died at about 2.00 am on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 at a hospital in Germany where he was moved to two days ago from Dutchess Hospital in Lagos.
The late governor had an eventful second-term since his assumption of office for the second-term in February 2021.
His second term was dogged with many controversies as well as health challenges which took much of his attention.
The governor was flown abroad for treatment of leukemia in June 2023, but returned to Nigeria in September after 3 months abroad.
He had to go on another medical leave on Dec. 13, 2023 due to the deterioration of his health condition.
But while Akeredolu was attending to ill health, his state was plunged the political crises as different political interest groups took positions over the affairs of the state.
The state House of Assembly was also divided between loyalists of Akerdolu and those of his deputy over the control of affairs of the state.
The raging tension in Ondo State was just doused in December when President Tinubu directed Akeredolu to hand over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Akeredolu was born on July 21, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State to the Late Rev. J. O Ola Akeredolu and Lady Evang. Grace Akeredolu.
He attended Government School, Owo, for his primary school education.
Young Akeredolu went to Aquainas College in Akure and Loyola College, Ibadan, for his secondary education.
He attended Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his higher Secondary School education.
Akerdolu was admitted into the University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University in 1974, where he obtained obtained his LLB degree in 1977 and the Nigerian Law School for his B.L in 1978.
He was a brilliant and restless lawyer. Akeredolu was the Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria.
He was once the Patron of The Nigerian Law Society, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, and Patron of The Law Society, Faculty of Law, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Ondo State.
The late governor was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and ex-Attorney General of Ondo State,
He was married to Betty and had four children. (GBN)
