The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has officially been sworn in as the state’s new governor.
The ceremony took place at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the governor’s office in Akure, the state capital, and was presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola.
In his opening remarks, Aiyedatiwa expressed the weight of the responsibility he was assuming following the tragic passing of Governor Arakurin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. “It is with a heavy heart that I accept this honorable responsibility of taking over the reins of governance after the unfortunate loss of our beloved governor and leader,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He emphasized the collective responsibility to maintain unity and continue Akeredolu’s legacy of good governance, pledging to complete the ongoing projects and initiatives started by the late governor. “We now have the responsibility to complete them. It is necessary for us to acknowledge with pride, the wonderful achievements and legacies of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,” he added.
Aiyedatiwa reassured the people of Ondo State that progress would continue under his leadership, with a focus on their welfare and well-being. “Our leader and governor embarked upon several landmark projects, many of which have been completed, with others still ongoing,” he said. “His records of performance are monumental and unprecedented. I want to assure the people of Ondo State that under my watch, this administration shall continue to advance the welfare of the people. We shall always place the people first in every decision we make.”
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several judges, top government officials, the Secretary to the State Government, members of the state cabinet, the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and members of the state House of Assembly.
Aiyedatiwa’s inauguration follows the death of Governor Akeredolu earlier on Wednesday.
Aiyedatiwa’s Journey to Becoming Governor
Aiyedatiwa’s path to the governorship of Ondo State was a long and challenging one, spanning a year since Akeredolu began struggling with health issues before ultimately passing away on Wednesday in Germany, where he had been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
Aiyedatiwa faced significant political opposition, including an impeachment plot by Akeredolu’s allies in the Ondo State House of Assembly. There was also opposition from supporters of his late principal.
In the final months, activists and constitutional lawyers urged Akeredolu to transfer power to Aiyedatiwa in accordance with the 1999 Constitution.
Akeredolu, who had been in and out of hospitals abroad, passed away on December 27, 2023. Before his death, he had transmitted power to Aiyedatiwa on December 13, 2023, as he began his second medical trip of the year. Akeredolu, 67, succumbed to complications from prostate cancer and was unable to return to Nigeria.
