The Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has taken the oath of office as the Governor of the Sunshine State.
His inauguration comes in the wake of the passing of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu earlier on Wednesday.
The Explainer learnt that the swearing-in ceremony took place at the Cocoa Conference Hall in the governor’s office in Akure, the state capital, administered by Chief Justice Olusegun Odusola at 5:18 pm.
In his opening remarks as the new leader of the state, Aiyedatiwa expressed, “It is with a heavy heart that I accept this honorable responsibility of taking over the reins of governance and affairs of our state after the unfortunate loss and passing of our beloved governor and leader, my dear principal, Arakurin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.”
Present to witness the swearing-in were other judges and top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, members of the state cabinet, the State All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, and members of the State House of Assembly.
Aiyedatiwa’s journey to becoming the governor of Ondo State was a year-long one, marked by Akeredolu’s health challenges before succumbing to prostate cancer in Germany on Wednesday.
Aiyedatiwa successfully navigated an impeachment plot by Akeredolu’s allies in the Ondo State House of Assembly and faced staunch opposition from his late principal’s supporters.
Controversy surrounded the state’s politics in recent months, with activists and constitutional lawyers urging Akeredolu to transfer power to Aiyedatiwa in accordance with the 1999 Constitution.