Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has returned to Nigeria after a three-month medical leave in Germany.
The governor had travelled to Germany in June for medical treatment, leaving the affairs of the state in the hands of his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, after transferring power to him in an acting capacity when he wrote to the House of Assembly.
After traveling abroad for medical treatment on April 3 and continuing for 15 days, Akeredolu ceded power to Aiyedatiwa on June 13 and then, on June 10, prolonged the medical vacation indefinitely.
Confirming the arrival of the governor, his wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, in a terse message on her social media handles, posted a picture of her husband in private with the caption “homebound.”
Akeredolu would travel from Abuja to Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, before arriving in Ondo State.
The governor’s inner political circle will meet with Akeredolu in Ibadan on Friday, according to the governor official who also confirmed his arrival will engaging some journalists
The official, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the politicians had got a communication telling them to gather in Ibadan on Friday because the governor will meet with them there at 1:00 pm.
He said, “Not everyone with the government received the message. No one can even say the exact person who sent the message. It is when we get to Ibadan that we will know all those who have been invited.
“I must tell you, we’re so happy to receive Oga (Akeredolu) back. God is indeed on the throne.”
To confirm the governor’s arrival and the specifics of the meeting, we could not reach the governor’s chief press secretary, Richard Olatunde.
Meanwhile, during his absence, rumors about the governor’s health condition spread, causing concern among the state’s citizens. However, it was not made public what the governor’s illness actually was.
The state’s social media sphere has been humming since news of Akeredolu’s entry into the state began to spread. Many people there believe that his return will have a huge impact on the political climate of the state.
His return, as the head of the state’s dominant political force, is anticipated to galvanize party members and supporters, boosting their confidence and giving the party a clear path forward before the 2024 governorship election.
