The Ondo State House of Assembly has confirmed the assumption of the deputy governor of the state, Honourable Lucky Ayetidawa, as the acting governor in the absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who has left the country for medical treatment.

The speaker of the State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, confirming the letter he received on behalf of the lawmakers from the governor regarding his departure from the country for his medical follow up.

The governor, who has been ill for months, returned to the country from Germany on a medical trip but did not return to his office in Ondo state, instead remaining in Ibadan.

Oladiji explained that, based on the constitutional requirement and the agreement iof the house, the procedure to recognise the Honourable Ayetidawa as the acting governor of the state has already been set in motion. He also added the deputy governor continue to fill the role until there is a contrary notice to the development. The letter titled ‘ODHA RECEIVES LETTER OF MEDICAL LEAVE FROM GOVERNOR AKEREDOLU’ fully reads:

“Following the Doctor’s advice on the need for medical follow up after recuperating, Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON has forwarded the letter on medical leave to the State House of Assembly.

“Receiving the letter on behalf of other lawmakers, the Speaker,Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt.Hon.Olamide Oladiji, said the Governor’s action is in line with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“According to the letter,his Deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa would now assume the responsibilities of the Governor in acting capacity until there is a written declaration to the contrary.

“The leave is expected to commence on Wednesday,13th December,2023.

Oladiji, who expressed appreciation to God for the speedy recovery of the Governor, expressed optimism that he would soon resume his duty”, he said.

It now appears that the political tension in the state is now subsiding as the governor, who has finally yielded to the call of the stakeholders and activists in the country to hand over to his deputy as required by the Nigerian constitution.

Recall that Mr Akeredolu’s refusal to hand over to his deputy, has caused heightened political tension in the state, in which their loyalists have been pitted against each other. Due to the event, the state lawmakers also attempted impeach Mr Ayetidawa; however, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened in the crisis in the state for the second time by advocating for peace among the concerned parties.