Ondo debunks Akeredolu’s death rumour, says Gov very much alive
By Emma Ogbuehi
Ondo State has risen in strong rebuttal of the news on the purported death of the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu. The government dismissed the rumour of the governor’s demise as a wicked fabrication that should be treated for what it is – fake news.
Rumour of the death of the governor, who has been routinely sick, has been making the rounds across the state since Friday, June 2 and continued till Saturday.
While confirming Akeredolu’s ill health, the State Government insists that he remains very much alive and in control but acting through delegates.
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EXCLUSIVE: Fears over Akeredolu’s health heightens, situation becoming critical
The government made the clarification in a statement entitled “Ignore the rumor on the governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON”, signed by the State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju:
The release stated “We have been inundated with calls and messages concerning the state of health of the Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. We had chosen to ignore this wicked fabrication until it appeared that certain persons seek to draw political mileage from the disinformation.
“Though the Governor has been indisposed for hh, he has been attending to state matters and delegating functions to functionaries of the Government, when necessary. We enjoin the members of the public to ignore the rumour. Aketi is very much alive.”
The health situation of the governor has become critical, TheNiche gathered from reliable sources
In January this year, this medium reported how the Ondo State Government issued a statement to douse widespread speculations that the governor was critically ill.
The report at the time was that Akeredolu was suffering leukemia (blood cancer.)
The statement by the government had admitted that although the governor was not in the best of health, there was no cause for alarm.
TheNiche has now learnt from a senior member of the Ondo State government that the health situation of the governor has severely deteriorated.
According to the official, doctors are battling to keep the governor alive.
The official said they are now relying on prayers.
TheNiche’s findings followed a report by Sahara Reporters which claimed Akeredolu has been incapacitated and bedridden as a result of the ailment.