Aiyedatiwa meets Tinubu, promises to lead Ondo forward

Ondo State’s recently sworn-in governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, pledged on Thursday to rally all interested parties to “move the state forward.”

At his late-night visit with President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Thursday, Aiyedatiwa announced his intention to “pull everybody to work together and see how we can bring the state forward.”

Shortly after the death of the previous governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, he entered office and made his remarks.

In order to “take charge and mobilise everybody” in his state to carry out the business of administration, Aiyedatiwa claimed he received “advice and encouragement” from the President.

The Ondo State Government declared Akeredolu’s passing on Wednesday following a protracted fight with prostate cancer.

His passing is the first for an Ondo governor currently in office and the fourth in recent memory of the country.

Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna (2012), Mamman Ali of Yobe (2009), and Shehu Kangiwa of Sokoto (1981) are the other officials that passed away while in office.

“To further brief him on the events that happened in our state; the loss of our governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and to also let him know that I have just been sworn in, because there can never be a vacuum, as the governor of Ondo State, being his former deputy,” Aiyedatiwa clarified in his explanation of his visit to the President.
He stated that he also expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for supporting them during this crucial time for our state during the private meeting. The events in Ondo State that made headlines throughout the previous six months are no longer news.

In the previous six months, Ondo State was essentially in the news every day; however, all of that has since been resolved, and as president of the nation, he has supported us.

“I am here to express my gratitude for his role as a father figure to the state, his guidance, the progress we have made thus far, and our future plans,” he continued.

His colleague from Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, said he visited the President to offer his condolences and to inform him of the state’s plans for the upcoming year.

“We woke up to the devastating news of our senior colleague, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who was also the chairman of the Southern Governors Forum and the Chairman of the Southwest Governors Forum,” stated Abiosun.

“I arrived to offer my condolences to the President, understanding the closeness, loyalty, and support he had for the President on his voyage to Aso Rock.

“I also used the occasion to inform him of our progress to date in Ogun State, our current state of affairs, our economy’s state of improvement and growth, our status as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing economies, our state’s achievements to date, and our plans for the upcoming year.