By Kamil Opeyemi
Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu on Friday told his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa and other stakeholders in the state that he is back to complete his tenure. NPO Reported on Thursday the return of the governor, who has been in Germany on a medical leave. His wife, Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu, had shared a photo of her husband aboard a plane heading to Nigeria. At a meeting held in Ibadan on Friday which was attended by the Speaker, Oladiji Olamide, Akeredolu made it clear that he was back in the country for good. He said the people of the state prayed for his return and now he is back.
hose he met with included members of the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Oladiji Olamide; members of the State Executive Council led by the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; National Assembly members led by Senator Jide Ipinsagba and Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Working Committee, led by the Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.
Other were: Youth groups, led by the Ondo APC Youth Leader, Comrade Olawande Ayo Wisdom; Former Local Government Chairmen, led by Hon. Augustine Ogbesetore; and members of the Foundation of Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO).
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said the Governor formally handed over his resumption letter to Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Olamide, and also provided a copy to Aiyedatiwa, who has been Acting Governor. The statement quoted Governor Akeredolu as saying “I came back yesterday, and as you know, it was a long journey. I decided that I must meet with you today. God has answered our prayers, and we give Him all the glory. “I can assure you that our return is to the glory of God and the prayers of all of you here, and those who wished us well, I thank you very much. God has done what the majority of our people wanted. Majority of our people here knelt down and prayed for our return, and we have returned. “So, because we had to land here in Ibadan first, I said I have to meet with House of Assembly members here. We are here, and we are back. I am back, and by the grace of God, I will be alive to complete for my full tenure in office. “I want to tell you that I am back, and I will resume work immediately. This is my letter of resumption.
“We are now back, and we give God all the glory. I have to let members of the House of Assembly know first that we have returned. As of today, I’m back as Governor of Ondo State. We thank God that I am alive and here. It’s your prayers that have kept us here. The office of the Governor has resumed full work.”