The governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, known simply as Rotimi Akeredolu is dead. He died today, December 27, at about 2am, aged 67.
A senior government official in Ondo State, who confirmed the death, said that he died at a German hospital where he was receiving medical attention.
He died of leukaemia and prostate cancer: two ailments that had made him incapacitated for several months.
Rotimi Akeredolu was born on 21st July, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State to Late Rev. J. O Ola Akeredolu of Owo and Lady Evang. Grace Akeredolu of Igbotu Ese Odo Government Area of Ondo State.
AKETI, as he was fondly called by friends and admirers, started his primary School education at Government School Owo before proceeding to the famous Aquainas College Akure in 1968. He later proceeded to the prestigious Loyola College, Ibadan in 1969 to complete his secondary school Education. He also attended Comprehensive High School Ayetoro for his higher Secondary School Certificate.
Oluwarotimi was admitted into the famous University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) IN 1974 popularly known as Oba Awon University. He obtained his LLB degree in 1977 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for his B.L in 1978.
The pedigree of Akeredolu said much about a riveting story of a rebel with a cause. Apart from his illustrious ancestry and cosmopolitan upbringing, a peep into his tenure as elected Vice President 1975/76, of the student University days at the famous and prestigious University Of Ife now (Obafemi Awolowo University) showed the architecture of service, fame and greatness in the making.
As a leader of the Students Union at Ife, Aketi helped to engineer a leadership focused on issues, robust debates and constructive engagements. He encouraged a genuine mobilization of mass consciousness against inequality, injustice, corruption, arbitrariness and recklessness.
By the time he was graduating, the startling and sterling leadership qualities of honesty, tolerance, fairness, transparency, endurance, vision, teamwork, justice and self-respect have all become the chisel which etched out the man’s character and ideological leaning in all of his endeavors in the subsequent years.
A devoted Christian with a warm and accommodating heart for people of other faiths, Akeredolu limitlessly supported a wide range of religious organizations in Ondo State and beyond, an Example of such was the dedication of a Chapel of Epiphany at his Owo residence for propagation of Gospel. He was honored by the Lord Bishop of no least a denomination than the Anglican Communion as the Chancellor of the Cathedral of St. Andrews Church, Owo, his hometown.
In addition to a distinguished and Spartan career of legal practice, Aketi also donated his lifetime to a career of mentorship and social service. He was a member, Oyo State Football association, 1992-1994, associate Member, Nigerian Red Cross society, Oyo State Branch.
He also accepted and became the Patron of The Nigerian law society, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Patron, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria(BRECAN), Patron The law society, Faculty of Law, Adekunle Ajasin University, akungba-akoko.
He was also the Patron, Sports Writers association of Nigeria, Oyo State branch.
Oluwarotimi, a dogged fighter, indefatigable, tenacious advocate, diligent solicitor and one who was unyielding and unbending in any cause he believed in, A gentleman in the finest and truest sense,
Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu was an accomplished family man. A detribalized Nigerian.
He married to Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and blessed with four children who are doing well in their chosen careers.
On Sunday, 27 November 2016, Akeredolu was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the Ondo State governorship election. He amassed 244,842 votes in the election to defeat Eyitayo Jegede with 150,380 votes and Olusola Oke with 126,889 votes. According to Professor Ganiyu Ambali, INEC Returning Officer, Akeredolu defeated two major opponents, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), to clinch victory. He was sworn in as the governor of Ondo State on 24 February 2017 in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
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 primary election.
On Saturday 10 October 2020, Akeredolu was re-elected governor of Ondo State and announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission on 11 October 2020. He won with a total number of 292,830 valid votes against his major opponents from the Peoples Democratic Party and the Zenith Labour Party, Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi respectively.
He was sworn in for a second term in office on 24 February 2021. He and his new deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, assumed office.
He advocated for the payment of taxes in the state to help boost the economy of the state and fulfilments of obligations.
After the June 2022 Owo church attack against Catholics in Ondo, Akeredolu condemned the attack as “satanic.
