Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been sworn in as governor following the death of his former boss, Rotimi Akeredolu.
The swearing-in of Aiyedatiwa held at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the governor’s office in Akure.
State chief judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, administered the oath of office at 5:18 p.m.
Akeredolu died early Wednesday in Lagos.
An online newspaper SaharaReporters, reported that he was managed by State House doctors up to his death because they could not fly him abroad.
“Akeredolu is dead; he died in Lagos,” the source said.
“They were looking for dialysis machines to be sent to his secret location in Lagos last week.”
He was 67 years old.
The ailing governor returned to Nigeria in September following a three-month medical leave in Germany and only recently proceeded on another one after he was directed by President Bola Tinubu to hand over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
His deputy, Aiyedatiwa has been standing in as Acting Governor.
Following his return to Nigeria in September, Akeredolu stayed in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and tried to govern his state from there, leading to public outrage.
After he was sworn-in, the new governor declared three days of mourning in the state, ordering that the national flag in all establishments in the state should fly at half mast.
Earlier, he said: “It is with a heavy heart that I accept this onerous responsibility of taking over the reins of governance and affairs of our state after the unfortunate loss and passing of our beloved governor and leader and my dear principal Arakurin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.”
“The death of our governor is indeed a devastating shock to us all, as we have all been praying earnestly for his quick recovery and subsequent safe return to Ondo State, having embarked on another medical leave on Wednesday, 13th December 2023.
“Indeed, there is no armour against fate, death lays his icy hand on kings.”
He condoled with the immediate and extended family of Oluwarotimi the late Akeredolu, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the Olowo of Owo, the people of Owo, and indeed the entire people of Ondo State over this monumental loss.
Aiyedatiwa hailed his late boss as a man of courage who always stood with the truth, even to his own detriment, adding that the people of Ondo State and the entire South-West would not forget in a hurry the creation of Amotekun that checkmated banditry and kidnapping in the region.
“The demise of Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu is indeed a great loss to me as an individual as our relationship dated back to many years ago, having closely worked with him when his gubernatorial journey started in Year 2012….
“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 take.
“It is my prayer, once more, that God Almighty shall grant the family and the people of Ondo State the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
