Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has passed away at the age of 67 after battling prostate cancer. The sad news was confirmed by the state Information and Orientation Commissioner, Mrs. Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, in a statement released today in Akure, the state capital.
According to Ademola-Olateju, Governor Akeredolu peacefully departed in the early hours of Wednesday, December 27, 2023, while undergoing medical treatment in Germany. The governor succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.
“Mr Governor peacefully departed from this world in the early hours of today, Wednesday, December 27, 2023,” the commissioner said.
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“This tragedy has left behind a profound void in our hearts. Governor Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany. He succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer.”
A brief story background
The late Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) secured his re-election as the governor of Ondo State in October 2020 and was sworn in for a second term in February 2021.
Having returned to Nigeria in September after a three-month medical leave in Germany, the governor recently took another leave as directed by President Bola Tinubu, during which he handed over power to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
His deputy, Aiyedatiwa, has been serving as Acting Governor during Akeredolu’s medical absences.
Akeredolu’s health struggles led to public outcry when he attempted to govern the state from Ibadan, Oyo State, after his return to Nigeria in September. On July 9, his wife, Betty, announced the suspension of her 70th birthday celebration activities due to unforeseen circumstances related to her husband’s health.
“Hello Family and Friends. This is to inform you that all activities lined up to mark my 70th birthday are hereby suspended till further notice due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control. Sorry for any inconvenience caused by this development,” raising concerns about the severity of the governor’s health.
The late governor’s political journey saw him emerge as the winner of the Ondo State governorship election in 2016, defeating rivals Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). He was re-elected in 2020 after securing victory against PDP’s Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party.
Akeredolu officially transferred power to Aiyedatiwa in June 2023, initiating a 21-day medical leave in Germany. However, the leave was later extended indefinitely as he continued to receive treatment.
The untimely death of Governor Akeredolu adds to the list of Nigerian governors who have passed away since 1999. Notable names include Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa (2010-2012) of Kaduna State and Mamman Bello Ali (2007-2009) of Yobe State.
The question of a better healthcare system
The issue of healthcare and the tendency of public officials, including governors, to seek medical treatment abroad, have raised concerns about the commitment to improving healthcare within Nigeria.
Notably, in their fight to live, only Yakowa who died in a helicopter crash did not seek medical treatment abroad – raising the question about governors’ commitment to improve healthcare in their various states.
In his seven years in office, Governor Akeredolu faced criticism for not undertaking significant efforts to build or upgrade healthcare facilities to a standard suitable for use by public officeholders. This inadequacy is unfortunately a prevalent issue in many states across the country, including the Federal Capital Territory.
The situation is exemplified by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who spent more than 100 days receiving medical care in a London hospital, despite earlier promises to curtail medical tourism for government officials within Nigeria during his campaign.
This prevailing backdrop has led to a noticeable surge in untimely deaths resulting from preventable and treatable diseases in Nigeria. Furthermore, it has compelled a considerable number of medical professionals to seek better working conditions abroad, contributing to a significant brain drain in the nation’s healthcare sector.
The healthcare question in Nigeria remains a pressing concern, underlining the need for substantial improvements in infrastructure, medical facilities, and overall healthcare delivery within the country. The choices made by public officials regarding their own healthcare reflect the state of the healthcare system in Nigeria.