Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu CON SAN was a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as governor of Ondo State from 24 February 2017 until his death on 27 December 2023 after a prolonged battle with leukemia.
His adopted prefix was “Arakunrin”, while his nickname was “Aketi”. He was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008. Akeredolu was also a Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria. On 21 July 2020, he was declared as the Ondo governorship candidate after the primary elections under the platform of the APC. During his time as the governor of Ondo State, he also doubled as the chairman of Southwest Governors’ Forum, a forum consisting of governors of the Southwest Nigerian states.
1. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu CON SAN was born on July 21, 1956, in Owo to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State.
2. Akeredolu started his primary education at a government school in Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola College, Ibadan, and a comprehensive high school, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively.
3. His middle name Odunayo means “Year of happiness” in Yoruba.
4. He went on to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study law and graduated in 1977.
5. He was a Nigerian lawyer and politician.
6. He assumed office as Ondo governor on February 24, 2017.
7. He reportedly died of leukemia.
8. His adopted prefix is “Arakunrin”, while his nickname is “Aketi”.
9. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.
10. Akeredolu was also a Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria.
11. He was the chairman of Southwest Governors.
12. He was referred to as the Nigerian Bar 1978.
13. Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997 to 1999.
14. In 1998, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006).
15. In November 2009, he faced allegations of corruption when the Bar Association’s third Vice-President, Welfare Secretary, and Assistant Financial Secretary circulated a petition entitled “Complaints against your fraudulent manifestations, violation of the NBA”.
16. Subsequently, the allegations against him were reviewed and dropped by the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association.
17. In November 2011, Akeredolu was among a crowd of aspirants to be the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for governor of Ondo State in the 2012 elections.
18. On 28 July 2012, Akeredolu was selected as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate for governor of Ondo State during the ACN congress in Akure.
19. His selection pitched him in a head-to-head battle with the incumbent, Olusegun Mimiko, and Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
20. Akeredolu promised to create 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office.
21. His promise nonetheless resulted in the submission of over 10,000 CVs to his campaign office.
22. Akeredolu was awarded the ticket to represent the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2016 elections for governor. On Sunday, 27 November 2016, he won the keenly contested 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election.
23. On Sunday, 27 November 2016, Akeredolu was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the Ondo State governorship election.
24. He amassed 244,842 votes in the election to defeat Eyitayo Jegede with 150,380 votes and Olusola Oke with 126,889 votes. According to Professor Ganiyu Ambali, INEC Returning Officer, Akeredolu defeated two major opponents, Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), to clinch victory. He was sworn in as the governor of Ondo State on 24 February 2017 in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
25. On 21 July 2020, he was declared the Ondo governorship candidate after the primary elections under the platform of the APC, for a second term.
26. The 2020 Ondo State gubernatorial election was held on 10 October 2020.
27. Akeredolu won re-election for a second term, defeating PDP Eyitayo Jegede, ZLP Agboola Ajayi, and several minor party candidates.
28. He currently started up a sea port project in Ondo state and he has stated that his administration was committed to the completion of the project, which was initiated in his first term, saying the port would not only serve Nigeria but also the whole of West Africa once built.
29. Akeredolu has been undergoing treatment for leukaemia since January 2023, and has had a long period of medical absence. On 12 December 2023, in advance of another period of medical leave, Akeredolu signed the notice appointing deputy governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as acting governor of the state.
30. His demise was announced today 27 December 2023 after a prolonged battle with leukemia.
