The Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, popularly known as Aketi, has embarked on a 21-day medical leave abroad.
The governor, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, notified the state House of Assembly about his leave in a letter dated June 7, 2023.
According to the letter, which was acknowledged by the Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, on Tuesday, the governor has handed over to his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in an acting capacity.
The letter stated that the leave would last from June 7 to July 6, 2023, due to the public holidays on June 12 and Eid el Kabir of June 28 and 29, 2023.
The Speaker described the governor as a lover of peace and an apostle of the rule of law, wishing him a speedy recovery and a joyful vacation.
He also assured the people of Ondo State that the deputy governor would perform his duties diligently and effectively in the absence of the governor.
Akeredolu, who was born on July 21, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State, is the 18th governor of Ondo State and the chairman of Southwest Governors Forum. He was re-elected for a second term on October 11, 2020 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defeating his major opponents from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi respectively.