By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
THE hitherto Acting Governor of Ondo State, Orimisan Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been sworn in as governor on Wednesday, December 27, 2023.
The swearing-in was held at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the governor’s office in Akure, the state capital and was administered by the chief judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola at 5:17 p.m.
Aiyedatiwa, in his opening remarks as the number one citizen of the state, said “It is with a heavy heart that I accept this honorous 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.
“Today’s event has placed a burden on all of us to stay together as one because we have the onerous responsibility to continue to sustain the legacies of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, which was good governance.
“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 Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON.”
Aiyedatiwa assured the indigenes of the state of continued progress as well as making their welfare his topmost priority like his predecessor did.
“Our leader and governor embarked upon several landmark projects many of which have been completed and several others ongoing.
“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 take,” he added.
Dignitaries who witnessed the swearing-in included other judges and top government officials, such as the Secretary to the State Government and members of the state cabinet, the state All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman and members of the state House of Assembly.
Stonix News reports that his inauguration followed the death of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu earlier on Wednesday after a long battle with Leukaemia and prostate cancer.
Aiyedatiwa’s walk to becoming the governor of Ondo State was a tortuous one that lasted one year since Akeredolu suffered health challenges before he eventually succumbed to the claws of death on Wednesday in faraway Germany where he was being treated.
Aiyedatiwa survived an impeachment plot by Akeredolu’s allies in the Ondo State House of Assembly and stark opposition by his late principal’s foot soldiers.
The last few months in the state have been characterised with political shenanigans and subterfuge with activists and constitutional lawyers calling on Akeredolu to transmit power to Aiyedatiwa in line with the 1999 Constitution.
Akeredolu was in and out of hospitals abroad before he eventually breathed his last on December 27, 2023.
However, Akeredolu, who was a second-term governor before his death, had transmitted power to Aiyedatiwa on December 13, 2023, as he embarked on a fresh medical trip overseas for the second time in 2023.
Akeredolu, who was 67, could, however, not make it back to Nigeria as he reportedly died of complications arising from the disease.
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