Ondo Speaker Urges Prayers for Ailing Governor Akeredolu

Ilesanmi AdekanbiJune 10, 2023

2 minutes read

The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, has appealed to residents of the state to pray fervently for the speedy recovery of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who has been battling with an undisclosed illness.

Newsflash Nigeria reports that Oladiji made the appeal on Saturday during a special prayer session organised for Akeredolu at Saint Andrew Cathedral Church, Owo, the headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of the state.

Recall that there have been rumours over the health condition of the governor, creating anxiety in the state.

Oladiji, however, urged the people not to lose hope and to stop spreading false information about Akeredolu’s health.

Oladiji, popularly known as Landmark, and other members of the House of Assembly were present at the prayer session.

Others at the event were Raymond O. Daudu (Deputy Minority Leader) and Victor Japheth (Deputy Chief Whip), among others.

Akeredolu is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is currently serving as the Governor of Ondo State since February 2017. He is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.

He was re-elected for a second term in October 2020 under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC). He is currently battling with an undisclosed illness that has raised concerns in the state.

VIDEO: Watch How DSS Arrested Suspended CBN Governor Emefiele

Akeredolu’s illness has been a subject of speculation and controversy for a long time. He was reported to have been treating an ailment said to be blood cancer (leukemia), a cancer of the blood caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in the body. He was also said to have travelled abroad for medication several times. However, the governor has never confirmed or denied these reports.

In January 2023, his wife, Betty Akeredolu, revealed that her husband was suffering from an undisclosed ailment and accused one of his aides of interfering in his health management. She also alleged that some people were plotting to take over power from him in case of any eventualities.

The governor’s absence from public functions and official duties has raised concerns and anxiety among the people of the state. Some opposition parties have called on him to hand over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to avoid a constitutional crisis. Some members of his cabinet have also reportedly split into factions over his health status.

The governor’s aides have however maintained that he is not incapacitated and that he is still in charge of the state affairs. They have also urged the people to pray for his recovery and ignore rumours about his health.