Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Olaide Adelami were on Monday sworn in as Ondo State governor and deputy, respectively.

Messrs Aiyedatiwa and Adelami took the oath of office administered by the state’s chief judge, Olusegun Odunsola, at the Akure Stadium.

Having won the state’s November 2024 governorship election, Mr Aiyedatiwa officially begins a fresh tenure of four years after taking over from his late principal, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died of cancer in December 2023.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, the seventh democratically elected governor of the state, pledged to prioritise the welfare of the state’s people, particularly the most vulnerable, poor, sick, and marginalised.

“In the next four years, we will work with interested investors and our development partners in ensuring that our Port Ondo becomes a reality. We will also facilitate investors to explore our large deposits of bitumen for local use and export purposes, thereby generating huge revenue for the state.  

“This has been the vision and goals of our founding fathers. There is no doubt that this would not be an easy task, but we are prepared to frontally confront these challenges and succeed,” the governor said.

Mr Aiyedatiwa said the new administration would invest more in critical infrastructure in primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

“To achieve this, they must be stimulated through employment, capacity building, sports and income generation. We will promote youth entrepreneurship, encourage innovation and creative economy among the populace,” the governor said.

He promised to ensure transparency and accountability and to make the state a model for sustainable development and good governance.

“We shall provide a level playing ground for all to maximise their God-given potential while creating an enabling environment for all to optimise the countless opportunities that abound in our state.  

“Let me assure you that nobody will be discriminated against on account of political, cultural, religious, gender or ethnic propensities. By the same token, I would like to appeal to our friends in the opposition parties to join hands with our administration to develop the Sunshine State.

“We have no need for unnecessary political distractions, which are costing us time, resources and energies that could be redirected and gainfully utilised for accelerated development of the state. There is room enough for all,” Mr Aiyedatiwa stated.

The event was attended by Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, APC national chair Umar Ganduje, former APC interim-chairman Bisi Akande, Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and Minister of Youths Development, Ayodele Olawande, among several dignitaries.