NewStats: 3,261,988 , 8,175,809 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 12:26 PM f5c2z

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), died on Wednesday after months of battling illness reported to be leukemia.

Family and top government sources confirmed the death of the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, who died at 67.

With his death, Akeredolu became the third Nigerian governor to die while in office after the former Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa and ex-Governor Mamman Ali of Yobe State.

ROTIMI AKEREDOLU

On November 27, 2016, the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) announced Akeredolu as the winner of the Ondo State governorship election having polled 244,842 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 150,380 votes and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) who got 126,889 votes. He was sworn in as governor on February 24, 2017.

He won the battle to re-contest for the 2020 Ondo State governorship election after beating Olusola Oke, D.I. Kekemeke, Jimi Odimayo, Segun Abraham and others in the APC primaries.

On Saturday, October 10, 2020, Akeredolu was re-elected after polling 292,830 votes against his major opponents from PDP and the Zenith Labour Party, Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi respectively. He was sworn in for a second term in office on February 24, 2021 alongside his new deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

Akeredolu had been out of office at least since June 2023 when he officially transferred power to Aiyedatiwa and proceeded on a 21-day medical leave in .

The leave, which was supposed to end on July 6, 2023, was later extended indefinitely as the governor continued to receive treatment in .

He later returned to Nigeria on September 6 and resumed at his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, to recuperate amid lingering crisis bordering on governance faraway in Ondo.

From Aiyedatiwa’s running battle with the state Assembly who moved to impeach him, to the sacking of his media aides by the governor, the political crisis in the Sunshine State has headlined the dailies on a regular basis. It took the intervention of President Bola Tinubu to prevail on the lawmakers.

There were repeated calls from different quarters, asking Akeredolu to either resign or resume office, but his handlers continued to give an impression that things were under control.

It became abundantly clear that all was not well when Kayode Ajulo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, raised the alarm in November that some commissioners forged Akeredolu’s signature to approve documents. The claim was confirmed a few days later by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Rasaq Obe.

On December 11, Akeredolu wrote to the state Assembly that he was proceeding on another medical leave. Although he handed over to his deputy, many have argued he should have resigned instead of transmitting power to Aiyedatiwa in acting capacity.

PATRICK YAKOWA

Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa served as governor of Kaduna State from 2010 to 2012 when he died in a helicopter crash. He was appointed deputy governor in July 2005, and returned as Kaduna number two citizen in the April 2007 election. He was sworn in as governor on 20 May 2010, succeeding former Governor Namadi Sambo who had been sworn in as vice president the day before.

Yakowa, 64, successfully ran for election as Kaduna Governor in the April 2011 poll and won. On December 15, 2012, Yakowa died in a helicopter crash along with the former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Andrew Azazi (rtd), while flying from Bayelsa State to Port Harcourt. They were returning from the funeral of Oronto Douglas’ father in Beyelsa when the incident occurred.

Others in the ill-fated helicopter crash were Dauda Tsoho and Mohammed Kamal, both aides, as well as the two pilots: Muritala Mohammed Daba and Adeyemi Sowole.

Yakowa’s deputy, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, was consequently sworn-in the following day as the state’s new governor by the state Chief Judge, Justice Rahila Cudjoe.

MAMMAN BELLO ALI

Mamman Bello Ali represented Yobe South Senatorial District between 1999 and 2007 and was the chairman senate committee on public . He contested and won the governorship election in Yobe in 2007 under the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and was in office until his death in 2009. He died of leukemia while receiving treatment at a hospital in Florida, United States.

https://dailytrust.com/akeredolu-other-governors-who-died-in-office/?fbclid=IwAR30xLh9NOhilDPtpdcYEQhGReNu-7pj1Atb_lTZgYYophyRVjBfB5LiQ6o

Rest in peace

Nawa o

I have always maintained that death isnt a negative occurence and so no need to pity the dead

We only grieve cause the dead person is a big loss to his people and they will sure miss him, since he's been in one way or the other, involved in their everyday life

The dead dont even know they are dead, and what they experience is total shift in consciousness and eternal peace like we all felt in the year 1800 when we all arent aware of whats happening around us

What if the other side is actually lively and great, then our mourning is useless and a disservice to the dead person

It is appointed for a man to die once after which judgement follows. RiP Akeredolu

Yakowa's death was very painful.

What Legacy did they leave that is all that matters?
I am thankful to Aketi for taking a stand on security for the SouthWest. Anytime we hear of Amotekun, we will forever his doggedity on that.
As for his other legacies, the people of Ondo will be the only ones to it.
Other governors should that life and death is in the hands of God. Looting and selfish decisions will never save you when your watch is over.

Death always win irrespective of how powerful or connected you are.

What you do before you die is all what matters:Live your life to bless other people and sow joy around

And life will continue as if nothing happened.

Rest in Peace brothers

Nothing last forever
Power, Money, Position.
Always have sympathy and concern to people around you.


May his soul rest in peace

Death is what everyone will pay

Soldier go, soldier come barracks still remain.

EmperorCaesar:


I have always maintained that death isnt a negative occurence and so no need to pity the dead

We only grieve cause the dead person is a big loss to his people and they will sure miss him, since he's been in one way or the other, involved in their everyday life

The dead dont even know they are dead, and what they experience is total shift in consciousness and eternal peace like we all felt in the year 1800 when we all arent aware of whats happening around us

What if the other side is actually lively and great, then our mourning is useless and a disservice to the dead person

Mhen... Death is inevitable after all. You get money, you no get money. You've achieved it all or not, death go touch everybody one day.

My condolences to the family and the sunshine state people.

But that Yakowa's was the most painful and suspicious.

EmperorCaesar:


I have always maintained that death isnt a negative occurence and so no need to pity the dead

We only grieve cause the dead person is a big loss to his people and they will sure miss him, since he's been in one way or the other, involved in their everyday life

The dead dont even know they are dead, and what they experience is total shift in consciousness and eternal peace like we all felt in the year 1800 when we all arent aware of whats happening around us

What if the other side is actually lively and great, then our mourning is useless and a disservice to the dead person

why did Mary Magdalene and Mary cried when they thought christ was dead forever.
Why did Jesus wept,on hearing the demise of his friend Lazarus

His wife and kids, like Turai Yar'Adua and kids, prevented him from getting proper treatment. They prefer what his status as Governor could offer than his well-being and chose that status over his health without it.

A lesson to men. When it all comes down to it, you are nothing but a provider to the woman you labour for. Your kids are an extension of herself.

You are disposable. When you have kids with a selfish woman, every progeny she bears you would despise you or use you.

Oga o

Death make us all equal

'Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un' translated from the Arabic means 'To Allah we belong and to him we will return'

Good night everyone

If money could buy or stop death, the elites and political class will openly brag and defy God.

RIP to omo olowo made,
omo olowo ee je’ran Edun
Omo oloja meta oo na loojo

It's a pity, but death remain a necessary end. Ondo deputy governor Lucky is really lucky indeed.

EmperorCaesar:


I have always maintained that death isnt a negative occurence and so no need to pity the dead

We only grieve cause the dead person is a big loss to his people and they will sure miss him, since he's been in one way or the other, involved in their everyday life

The dead dont even know they are dead, and what they experience is total shift in consciousness and eternal peace like we all felt in the year 1800 when we all arent aware of whats happening around us

What if the other side is actually lively and great, then our mourning is useless and a disservice to the dead person

Where is your evidence for this? Can you just cite some rules that can back up this your assumption? Are you talking from religious views, receiving revelation or you are making this up from yourself opinion?

RIP Aketi

Rest in peace aketi

Someone I really love so much. He lead the fight against terrorist in south west and he succeed. Death has done this . Rest in peace

May his soul rest in peace...! His fight and journey are finally over.

He was a good man who truly loved his people. RIP

spencekat:
Yakowa's death was very painful.

amplified by the emergence of someone like el-rufai.

F

Life of vanity if our political masters know this, it will make our dear country better.
RIP Sir

Treasure17:
And life will continue as if nothing happened.

That's just it oh.