Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu CON SAN, a Nigerian politician and attorney, was born on July 21, 1956, and left this world on December 27, 2023, after an extended battle with leukemia. He served as the governor of Ondo State from 24 February 2017 until 27 December 2023.
In 2008, he advanced from his role as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association. Furthermore, Akeredolu was the Managing Partner of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, a legal firm he co-established with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a past Nigerian Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
After the preliminary elections, he was named the APC’s nominee for governor of Ondo on July 21, 2020. Besides his governorship, he chaired the Southwest Governors’ Forum, which united the governors from the Southwest region of Nigeria.
Early Life and Education
Akeredolu was born on July 21, 1956, in Owo to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu lineage and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu from the Aderoyiju lineage of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State.
He began his primary education at Owo’s Government Primary School. He proceeded with his secondary education and Higher School Certificate at Aquinas College in Akure, Loyola College in Ibadan, and Comprehensive High School in Ayetoro, respectively. He furthered his legal studies at the University of Ife, presently known as Obafemi Awolowo University, graduating in 1977. In 1978, he was referred to the Nigerian Law School.
Akeredolu’s Spouse and Family
He is wed to Betty and is a father to four children.
Akeredolu’s Political Journey
From 1997 to 1999, Akeredolu acted as Ondo State’s attorney general. He was honored as Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1998. Between 2005 and 2006, he chaired the Legal Aid Council. The Bar Association’s third vice president, welfare secretary, and assistant financial secretary issued a notice titled “Complaints regarding your fraudulent activities, violations of the NBA” in November 2009, triggering allegations of corruption against him.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association later evaluated and dismissed the allegations against him.
Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), appointed him the Grand Patron of the NDLEA on February 4, 2022.
Governor of Ondo State
The Independent National Electoral Commission announced Akeredolu as the victor of the Ondo State gubernatorial election on Sunday, November 27, 2016. In this election, he garnered 244,842 votes, surpassing Olusola Oke (126,889 votes) and Eyitayo Jegede (150,380 votes). To achieve victory, Akeredolu triumphed over two strong opponents, Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as mentioned by Professor Ganiyu Ambali, INEC Returning Officer. On February 24, 2017, he was sworn in as the governor of Ondo State in Akure, the state capital.
After his success in the APC primary elections against Olusola Oke, D.I. Kekemeke, Jimi Odimayo, Segun Abraham, and others, he secured the opportunity to re-contest for the governorship of Ondo State in October 2020.
The Independent National Electoral Commission declared on October 11, 2020, that Akeredolu had been re-elected as governor of Ondo State on Saturday, October 10, 2020. With a total of 292,830 legitimate votes, he outperformed his primary challengers, Agboola Ajayi and Eyitayo Jegede from the Zenith Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party, respectively.
On February 24, 2021, he took the oath of office for a second term. On the same day, he began his term alongside his newly appointed deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Akeredolu condemned the June 2022 attack on the Catholic church in Owo as “demonic.”
Akeredolu’s Illness and Demise
Beginning in January 2023, Akeredolu was undergoing treatment for leukemia and experienced an extensive medical leave of absence. On December 12, 2023, he indicated approval for deputy governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to assume the role of acting governor prior to his next medical leave.
Regrettably, he passed away on December 27, 2023, after unsuccessful attempts to transport him abroad for proper medical care.
