Chairman of South West Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), forwarded a letter of extension of his medical leave to the state House of Assembly.
This came days after the 66-year-old governor assured residents of the state that he was in high spirits and had full faith in the expertise of his doctors. He promised to return to his official duties soon.
Akeredolu had embarked on a 21-day medical leave on June 7 and was expected to return home on July 6, 2023 to start performing his constitutional duties.
He had written to the state legislature in line with constitutional provisions to proceed on medical leave and handed over power to his deputy, Aiyedatiwa to act in his stead.
Receiving the extension letter on behalf of the lawmakers, Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, said the governor’s action was in line with Section 190 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
According to the letter, his deputy, Aiyedatiwa would continue to act as governor until there was a written declaration to the contrary.
Oladiji, who expressed appreciation to God for the speedy recovery of the governor, expressed optimism that he would soon resume his duties.
Akeredolu was seen briefly in public shortly after he returned to the state from his 15-working days annual leave on May 1, but his ill-health continued to generate anxiety.
The governor was reportedly treating leukemia, cancer of the blood, caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in the body. It is a cancer of blood-forming tissues that hinders the body’s ability to fight infections.
Deji Elumoye, Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure
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