Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is dead, a cabinet member in the state confirmed to Peoples Gazette. 

Mr Akeredolu, who had been suffering from an undisclosed health challenge, died in the early hours of Wednesday, according to the top cabinet member who spoke on condition of anonymity.  

He revealed that the governor, who had long been absent from the state, died after medical personnel including his “private doctor” battled to save his life.  

“He (Akeredolu) died in the early hours of this morning and the sad news has reached some of us in the cabinet,” he said. “I was told that doctors battled to save his life including his physician who has been attending to his health while in Ibadan.”

The cabinet member could not immediately reveal the details of Mr Akeredolu’s death and where it occurred.   

“His wife (Betty) has confirmed the death of his husband to some cabinet members who called him early this morning and it was shocking, particularly to those loyal to the government,” he further hinted. 

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, could not immediately confirm the news when contacted by The Gazette. 

However, a presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed Mr Akeredolu’s death, saying he had been battling a serious ailment and died in ‘Germany’ where he was hospitalised. 

Mr Onanuga further quoted the state Commissioner for Finance, Wale Akinteriwa, who is also a close ally of Mr Akeredolu, as saying the governor died of Leukaemia after battling the ailment for several months. 

He said, “It’s true.” 

Mr Akeredolu, aged 67, had been suffering from an ailment, which several sources confirmed was Leukaemia – a cancer of blood-forming tissues that also hinders the body’s ability to fight infection. 

He had earlier travelled to Germany but later returned to Nigeria in September after spending three months on medical leave to attend to his health. But his condition worsened amid calls to hand over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in acting capacity. 

Mr Akeredolu later stayed at his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, as calls for his resignation heated the state political space.  

President Bola Tinubu had to intervene in the political bickering, especially among cabinet members and directed that the control of government should be handed over to Mr Aiyetiwa in an acting capacity pending the governor’s recovery.