Wale Akinterinwa, the immediate past commissioner for finance in Ondo State, has disclosed that former governor Rotimi Akeredolu had already anointed him as his successor in office before his death.

Mr Akeredolu, who suffered protracted prostate cancer, died on December 27 last year at a German hospital.

Speaking on TVC News, Mr Akinterinwa said he had a discussion with the former governor about the governorship election of the state before he died and was told to gear up for the seat of power.

He noted that the discussion about the successor plan came after the former governor returned from his second medical trip to Germany.

“He (Akeredolu) actually had a discussion with me, and during the discussion in his house, he told me that he actually wants me to take over from him.

“He prayed for me. I’m aware that he told certain people about that desire. The conversation happened immediately after he came back from his trip to Germany,” Mr Akinterinwa said over the weekend.

Before Mr Akeredolu’s death in office, the race to take over from him had split the State Executive Council (SEC) and heated up the political space in the state.

No fewer than five members of the state cabinet, including Mr Akinterinwa and the former Secretary to the State Government, Oladunni Odu, had been jostling to succeed Mr Akeredolu ahead of the governorship election slated for November 16, 2024.

Although the former commissioner has yet to officially declare his ambition, he noted that he had started consultations to win the ticket of the All Progressives Congress and contest the governorship race.

According to him, “At the appropriate time, I will announce my intention, which is really not in doubt that I’m still making further consultations.

“And I can assure you that I will get the ticket. The people are with me, and I’m very confident that I will.”

Mr Akinterinwa, who was part of the cabinet members dissolved by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, returned to the state on Friday to a rousing welcome from scores of supporters at the Akure Airport.

The supporters, which included youths and women mostly from the Southern Senatorial District of the state, carried different placards bearing agitations for the former finance commissioner to contest the race.

Speaking on behalf of the supporters, Dele Adebayo said they had to wait patiently till Mr Akinterinwa was out of the office before asking him to contest the governorship seat.

Mr Adebayo explained that since he has what it takes to turn the economy of the state for greatness, the supporters across the 18 LGAs of the state had to throw their weight and support behind him.

“We are convinced that he’s more than capable of changing the narrative and governance in the state. We are calling on Wale Akinterinwa to contest the April governorship primary of the APC and grab the ticket for the November poll.

“We are ready to mobilise for his success because he is capable. A financial expert would know how to manage the economy of the state. He has been the finance commissioner for three times, demonstrating transparency, accountability, and high integrity in government,” he said.