Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the deputy governor of Ondo, has appealed to the residents of the state to pray for the quick recovery of Rotimi Akeredolu, who is currently on a medical trip abroad.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, who is currently ‘acting’ as the governor of the state, appealed in a statement he personally signed on Wednesday in Akure, the state capital.

“We, therefore, enjoin the good people of Ondo State and all friends of our dear Sunshine State not to relent in their prayers for Mr Governor’s quick recovery, so that he can resume duty after his medical vacation, to continue with his good works for the betterment of Ondo State in particular and Nigeria at large,” Mr Aiyedatiwa said in the statement obtained by Peoples Gazette.

On Tuesday, the Gazette had reported that Mr Akeredolu in a letter forwarded to the House of Assembly said he was proceeding on a 21-day medical leave.

In the copy of the letter, the governor said he had also transmitted power to his deputy, Mr Aiyedatiwa, to begin ‘acting’ as the governor, pending his return from the medical trip abroad.

Mr Akededolu has been battling an undisclosed ailment that has continued to incapacitate him from performing his official duty, thereby disrupting government duties in the state.

But Mr Aiyedatiwa in his statement denied any ‘disruption of government activities’, noting that such rumours were a result of impatience and lack of understanding in the running of government activities.

He, however, blamed the political class, particularly those running for the seat of the governor ahead of next year’s poll, for spreading the rumour to heat up the polity.

“Let me aver without mincing words that rumour about the disruption of government activities are misplaced and only arose as a result of impatience and lack of proper understanding of the running of the machinery of government.

“In any case, such misrepresentations and apparently baseless allusions are to be expected when political gladiators by their activities in the build-up to party primaries and gubernatorial elections in any state try to heat up the polity. Ondo State cannot definitely be an exception,” he said.