AKEREDOLU’S HEALTH STATUS: WHO IS LYING
Governor Akeredolu’s health health had been the subject of intense speculations in the state and infighting in the government that seemed to put the governor’s family against the deputy governor. His health condition was speculated to be so severe that rumours broke on at least two occasions that he was dead. Though, the amiable governor of Ondo State has not been seen in the public domain for a long time, his aides have been managing this and his activities using different strategies on the media space.
Akeredolu was last seen in public on May 17, 2023, when he hosted the Ondo State Cocoa Council delegation at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital. Since then, Arakunrin Akeredolu has been noticeably missing at public events, a situation that further raised eyebrows among people; both in the state and all over Nigeria, expressing concerns about the governor’s state of health.
It could be recalled that SaharaReporters in their usual style of celebrating unfortunate circumstances broke the story that the governor had become bedridden and was in his residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. This online news source also alleged that Akeredolu was unable to sign official documents due to his deteriorating health condition.
In one of its report against Akeredolu, Sahara reporter quoted an anonymous source saying, “Governor Akeredolu will be flown out of the country for medical treatment after the SaharaReporters’ report. He is in a very critical condition. He was put in the wheelchair of his late mother and he seemed unconscious. All security agents and a few top politicians around were asked to put off their phones,” the source told SaharaReporters.
The same Sahara also reported that Akeredolu had been abandoned by his wife and children, which prompted their swift action to fly him abroad. Is that report true or a figment of Sahara imagination in their usual concocted reports?
Furthermore, at a point, the opposition parties also alleged that the wife of the governor and his son, Babajide, who is the Director-General of Ondo State Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU), were running the affairs of the state. They were alleged of scheming to ensure that the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa did not have a grip on the state in the absence of the governor.
In their usual developmental journalism enquiry into this issue, Guardian newspaper interviewed a member of Akeredolu’s cabinet who begged for anonymity disclosed that the governor is not incapacitated, has been speculated, but admitted that the governor is indisposed and he has been efficiently piloting the affairs of the state. She said the speculations surrounding the governor’s state of health are not unconnected to the 2024 governorship poll, as politicians were behind what he described as unfounded rumours to soothe their own narratives.
Against all these, Governor Akeredolu embarked on medical leave in mid june 2023 after handing over to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa who was alleged by his wife as a wife beater. In a statement from London entitled, “My Ordeal At The Hands Of Lucky”, Mrs Ayedatiwa narrated her experience, adding that she could no longer endure his temperament. She said she had endured physical, emotional, and mental abuse from her husband—beatings, torture, and constant mistreatment, nevertheless, the acting governor denied the allegation saying it was politically motivated.
Speaking on the governor’s health, Mr Aiyedatiwa noted that people, whenever the need arises, find time to rest and take care of their health when medically challenged. “We, therefore, enjoin the good people of Ondo State and all friends of our dear Sunshine States 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 during his first public reaction on Akeredolu’s health.
At a point, The Ondo State Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Ade Adetimehin, also called on the people of the state to continue praying for Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who according to him, has been battling with health issues in recent times. He however said, the health issue of the governor was not so serious that he would not be able to resume his official position as governor of the state. Adetimehin, who accused the opposition parties of allegedly politicising the health condition of the governor, said what all the people in the state needed at present was prayers for the governor to recover quickly.
However, recently, in what could be called an official confirmation of recent Sahara report that Akeredolu is incapacitated and has extended his medical leave indefinetly, the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has confirmed that ailing Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, is incapacitated and needs prayer. Adamu stated this at a meeting between the national leadership of the party and APC state executives in Abuja. Inhis words, “We regret to announce the extreme incapacity of the Governor of Ondo state who we understand has been hospitalised overseas. We wish and pray for him for a speedy recovery.”
Recently, in what could be referred to as a good news, which actually will dowsed the ongoing campaign of calumny by some media and politicians against the person of Akeredolu due to his health challenge, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of the governor of Ondo, has shared the photograph of her husband in a medical facility amid death rumours. She posted the picture on Friday across her social media handles.
The picture shows the ailing governor sitting on a motorable chair while his wife posed beside him. The background of the picture shows the picture may have been taken in a medical facility. “Aketi dey kampe!. Victory for us!” Betty captioned the picture. Coincidentally, yesterday was the 67th birthday of the Ondo governor, who was born on July 21, 1956.
Earlier, Akeredolu posted a picture on his Twitter handle to celebrate his 67th birthday. “Which of the Favour of the Lord can I deny? Chapter 67. To God be the Laud, Honour and Glory!!!” the Ondo governor tweeted.
Having seen this recent picture, the question is, who is lying?
Sahara Reporters?
Opposition parties?
The APC headquarters of the state Chairman?
The Governor or the family?
We at Secured Naija joined the Governor to praise the living God who has kept him alive till now to see his 67th birthday. It is also glaring that the family who are mostly touched by this unfortunate incident are not lying. The governor will be back. Congratulations sir.
