Aiyedatiwa fills in while Akeredolu is absent due to illness

Rotimi Akeredolu, the governor of Ondo State, informed the legislature in a letter to the state House of Assembly on Tuesday that he would be taking a 21-day medical leave.

The governor also informed the Assembly that he had delegated his duties as governor while he was away to Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Deputy Governor.

While the majority of his official tasks are being completed by his assistants on his behalf, Akeredolu, who is reportedly ill, has stayed away from public scenes recently.

At many government events, both official and social, Akeredolu was represented by the deputy governor, though other aides occasionally filled in for the governor.

The receipt of the governor’s letter requesting medical leave was confirmed by the Assembly’s Speaker, Mr. Olamide Oladiji, on Tuesday.

The governor has started a 21-day leave for medical treatment abroad, starting on June 7, 2023, and ending on July 6, 2023, the Speaker announced.

The Speaker stated that in the event of the governor’s absence, the deputy governor would serve in that capacity until Akeredolu returns to the state on 6 July.

Oladiji wished the governor a speedy recovery and a happy vacation and described him as a supporter of peace and an advocate for the rule of law.

The opposition Social Democratic Party and Peoples Democratic Party had previously expressed concern about the governor’s whereabouts, with the SDP last week demanding that the governor turn over control of the state to his deputy.

The SDP stated that while it was still praying for Akeredolu’s recovery, “the state should not and cannot be left without a constitutional head in an acting capacity while he (Akeredolu) is away attending to his health.”

The SDP noted that Akeredolu was neither present nor represented at President Bola Tinubu’s two meetings with state governors chosen on the APC platform in the previous week, according to the SDP.

“Nationally significant topics were discussed at each of those meetings. Almost all of the governors attended, and those who couldn’t attend had their deputies stand in for them. Our dear Ondo State is the only state that was glaringly absent in terms of representation at the two meetings, the SDP lamented.

Similar to this, the PDP stated in a statement released by its publicity secretary, Mr. Kennedy Peretei, “As mortals, any human being can become ill, whether in public office or private life. It is illegal and a great disservice to withhold information about Rotimi Akeredolu’s whereabouts and employment because he is supported by the tax dollars of the people of Ondo State.

The PDP responded by saying Akeredolu did the right thing by writing to the Assembly.

“Transmitting power to the deputy governor in the event that the governor is leaving on a medical vacation is nothing extraordinary. The media rumours and angst were able to flourish because of the space that Akeredolu’s handlers had created.

“However, the state Assembly’s letter has provided all the information required to answer the question of Akeredolu’s location. We believe that in politics, doing the right thing must always be the priority.