By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Governor of Ondo State, South West Nigeria, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has agreed to transmit power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa in line with the constitution, as he embarks on medical leave with effect from Wednesday.
The latest is a follow-up to his medical treatment earlier in the year which kept him out of public glare for months, his spokesman, Richard Olatunde said in a statement on Tuesday.
While the governor is away, the deputy governor will assume the responsibilities of the governor in acting capacity, the statement stated further.
Olatunde said the governor will “prioritise his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties”.
“A formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution will be transmitted to the House of Assembly.
“As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a widely respected Nigerian, Governor Akeredolu has consistently delegated power to his deputy during his annual vacations. This practice was observed on April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he embarked on previous vacations,” the statement partly read,
Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), won his re-election as the state governor in October 2020 and was sworn in for a second term in office in February 2021.
However, the governor’s second term, since January 2023, has not been a smooth sail as he had to be flown abroad for treatment over undisclosed medical condition in June.
The senior lawyer, 67, returned to Nigeria in September after months overseas but has since then been living in Ibadan, capital of the neighbouring Oyo State.
He has been under intense pressure to resign or hand over power to his deputy in line with the 1999 constitution.
