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Akeredolu: Timeline Of illness, Death Hoax, Politics

Published

2 years ago

December 28, 2023

The death of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on December 27, 2023, has shocked and saddened many Nigerians, especially the people of his state.

Akeredolu, who was 67 years old, had been battling health challenges for months, amid rumours of his demise and political intrigues. Here is a timeline of the events that marked his final days:

– June 7, 2023: Akeredolu embarked on a 21-day medical leave, citing the need to undergo routine check-ups and rest. He wrote to the state House of Assembly, informing them of his absence and delegating some of his powers to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

– June 30, 2023: Akeredolu announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus. He said he was asymptomatic and had gone into self-isolation. He urged the people of the state to adhere to the preventive measures against the virus.

– July 6, 2023: Akeredolu was expected to resume his duties after his medical leave, but he did not return to the state. His spokesman, Segun Ajiboye, said the governor was still in Abuja, receiving treatment for COVID-19. He dismissed the rumours that Akeredolu had died or was incapacitated.

– July 13, 2023: Akeredolu’s wife, Betty, accused a woman named Olubunmi Ademosu of poisoning her husband and plotting to take over his position. She made the allegation in a voice note that went viral on social media. She claimed that Ademosu, who was a former commissioner and a close associate of Akeredolu, had been having an affair with him and had given him a substance that made him sick. She also alleged that Ademosu had the backing of some powerful politicians in the state and at the federal level, who wanted to remove Akeredolu from office. Ademosu denied the allegations and threatened to sue Betty for defamation.

– July 20, 2023: Akeredolu returned to the state, after spending 43 days away. He said he had recovered from COVID-19 and thanked the people for their prayers and support. He also dismissed the rumours of his death, saying he was alive and well. He said he had handed over the affairs of the state to his deputy, Aiyedatiwa, who had been loyal and competent.

– August 10, 2023: Akeredolu travelled to Germany for further medical treatment, without informing the state House of Assembly. He said he had the permission of President Bola Tinubu to travel and that he had delegated his powers to his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, again. He said he would be back in a few weeks.

– September 12, 2023: Akeredolu, relieved the media aides attached to Aiyedatiwa of their appointments amid an alleged rift between the two leaders. The governor also disbanded the press crew assigned to the deputy governor’s office.

The affected aides included Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to Governor (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography) Abayomi Samson Adefolalu.

Sources within the government revealed that the aides were sacked as a result of insubordination and flagrant disregard to the appropriate authority.

– September 15, 2023: Akeredolu’s absence sparked a political crisis in the state, as his deputy, Aiyedatiwa was declared as the acting governor, even as he dissolved the state executive council. He said he had not heard from Akeredolu for over a month and that he had the constitutional right to assume full authority as the governor. He accused some of Akeredolu’s loyalists of sabotaging his administration and plotting to impeach him.

– October 8, 2023: The state House of Assembly moved to impeach Aiyedatiwa as the deputy governor, on the grounds of gross misconduct, abuse of office and disloyalty to Akeredolu. The lawmakers said they had received a letter from Akeredolu, dated September 30, 2023, in which he denied handing over power to Aiyedatiwa and accused him of usurping his authority. They said they had verified the authenticity of the letter and the signature of Akeredolu. They also said they had received a video message from Akeredolu, in which he said he was recovering well in Germany and would soon return to the state. They said Aiyedatiwa had acted in violation of the constitution and the oath of office he took.

– November 2, 2023: Akeredolu returned to Nigeria but remained in his Ibadan residence, after spending 84 days in Germany. He said he had undergone a successful surgery and was in good health. He thanked the people for their support and solidarity.

– November 25, 2023: President Bola Tinubu intervened in the rift between Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, in a bid to save the state from chaos. Tinubu met with Aiyedatiwa and other stakeholders from Ondo State at the State House in Abuja and urged them to embrace peace and maintain the status quo.

– December 27, 2023: Akeredolu died in Germany according to the state government. His death was confirmed by the state government in a press statement, who said he had suffered from prostate cancer. They said the governor had died peacefully and had left behind a legacy of service and development.

News

‘My Father Discovered Banana Island’ – Ex-BBNaija Star Claims

Published

3 hours ago

November 29, 2025

Editor

Former Big Brother Naija reality star, Kiddwaya has claimed that his dad, Terry Waya, discovered the famous Banana Island in Lagos.

He made the claim in a recent of the Off The Record podcast.

The host asked: “I heard that your dad discovered Banana Island. Is that correct?”

Kiddwaya replied: “Yeah, I didn’t even know until I heard it during one of my trips.”

Kiddwaya’s dad, Terry Waya is a self-acclaimed billionaire with investments in the real estate, agriculture and hospitality industry.

His public profile was further boosted during and after his son Kiddwaya’s appearance on the Big Brother Naija reality show in 2020.

Watch video here.

News

EFCC Releases Malami After Interrogation, Gives Fresh Appointment For More Questioning

Published

5 hours ago

November 29, 2025

Editor

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, says his engagement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following an invitation by the agency has been “successful.”

Malami, who disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Saturday, said he was released after the interaction and given an appointment for further questioning.

“In line with my undertaking to keep Nigerians updated on my invitation by EFCC, I give glory to Allah for His divine intervention. The engagement was successful and I am eventually released, while on an appointment for further engagement, as the truth relating to the fabricated allegations against me continues to unfold,” he wrote.

The EFCC had earlier invited the former minister over allegations linked to his time in office, though the commission has not publicly disclosed details of the issues under investigation.

Malami previously announced that he would honour the invitation, saying it aligned with his commitment to accountability and transparency.

News

VIDEO: Jonathan Breaks Silence On Guinea-Bissau’s Military Takeover

Published

12 hours ago

November 29, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has broken silence following the recent military takeover in Guinea-Bissau, describing it as a conventional coup, insisting it was “maybe a ceremonial coup” given the strange manner in which it unfolded.

Jonathan, who spoke extensively in an interview with Symfoni posted on YouTube on Friday, said he felt compelled to address the media to thank Nigerians for their concern and to clarify what truly happened while he was in Bissau as head of the West African Elders Forum Election Observation Mission.

“You know, since I left office, I’ve always been scared of talking to the media,” he said. “But in this particular case, I decided to speak… first and foremost, to thank Nigerians for the show of empathy, the encouragement.”

Gunfire erupted around key government buildings in Bissau on Wednesday, with soldiers claiming they had “total control” of the country and followed by curfew, border closures and the detention of top government and security officials.

In another development, Tribune Online reports that ousted President, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, flew to Senegal after the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Reacting to the development, Jonathan however suggested the situation defied all known patterns of a coup.

“I wouldn’t call it a coup. It was not a coup. I would just say, for want of a better word, maybe it was a ceremonial coup,” he said. “For two things: It is the president, President Embaló, who announced the coup. Later, the military men came up to address the world that they were in charge of everywhere.”

He continued, “Then Embaló had already announced the coup, which is strange. Not only announcing the coup, but Embaló, while the coup took place, was using his phone and addressing media organisations across the world that he had been arrested.”

The former president, drawing from his experience as a Nigerian and a regional mediator, said the events were unlike anything he had seen.

“I’m a Nigerian close to 70, and I know how they keep heads of state when a coup takes place. Recently, I was a mediator in Mali, and within that period, we had a military coup. The military doesn’t take over governments, and the sitting president that they overthrew would be allowed to be addressing press conferences and announcing that he has been arrested. Why does this happen? Who is fooling whom?”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Federal Government had earlier condemned the development as “a serious threat to democracy and regional stability,” and confirmed Jonathan’s safe evacuation by a special flight alongside his delegation.

Jonathan used the interview to call on ECOWAS and the African Union to promptly announce results of the election that was underway in Guinea-Bissau before the military disrupted the process.

“They have the results because AU and ECOWAS officials were in all the regions when the results were collated. They cannot change those results. They should tally all those results and announce them. They cannot force the military out. They must announce and let the world know who won that election.”

He stressed that the integrity of elections must be upheld in West Africa, recalling his experience overseeing Côte d’Ivoire’s contentious 2010 presidential poll.

“A similar thing happened in Côte d’Ivoire when I was the Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS,” he said. He narrated how Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara went into a second round after neither met the 50% +1 requirement.

“In the second round, Ouattara then got more votes than Gbagbo. And Gbagbo said he was not going, that he won the election,” Jonathan recounted. “But all the observers in the international community said Ouattara won the election. And we in ECOWAS said, well, you are our colleague, but you have to go.”

According to him, his insistence on respecting the will of the people ensured a peaceful transfer of power at the time.

“I stood my ground, and Ouattara was sworn in,” he said.

Jonathan reiterated that Guinea-Bissau’s situation was “disturbing” to anyone who believes in democracy and insisted that respecting election results remains the only path to stability in the region.

Watch video here