Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been inaugurated as the governor of Ondo State, marking the beginning of his first full four-year term after replacing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who died in office in 2023.
The ceremony took place on Monday at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the state capital, two months after he won the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Aiyedatiwa took his oath of office just after his running mate Olayide Adelami around 12:59 pm.
The governor thereafter rode in an open van around the complex, waving to cheers from supporters.
‘We’ll not rest on our oars’
Speaking after his inauguration, Governor Aiyedatiwa who said his administration has restored confidence in the government among the people, promised that he and his deputy with not rest on their oars.
“We like to assure you that the overwhelming renewed mandate you have freely given to us has further placed on us a huge burden of leadership and we promise never to rest on our oars.
“I and my deputy, we make a solemn pledge this day that we shall lead and govern with the fear of God and utmost dedication to the progress of the state. We will prioritise the welfare of our people particularly most vulnerable among us, that is the poor, the sick and the marginalised.”
He also pledged to improve the state economically in the next four years.
“In the next four years, we will work with interested investors and our development partners in ensuring that our Port Ondo becomes a reality.
“We will also facilitate investors to explore our large deposit of bitumen for local use and export purposes thereby generating huge revenue for the state,” Aiyedatiwa said.
The ceremony was attended by some dignitaries including the Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, former governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, among others.
Road to Alagbaka
The inauguration completes the succession process in the Sunshine State, with Aiyedatiwa expected to head the next administration which will lead the state in the next four years.
To arrive here, Aiyedatiwa had to overcome a stiff competition from another former deputy governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi, who contested against him on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aiyedatiwa’s stay at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure, was extended when he was declared winner of the November 16, 2024 governorship election by the Returning Officer, Olayemi Akinwumi, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi State.
The APC candidate polled 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival Ajayi, who scored 117,845 votes, more than twice lower than Aiyedatiwa.
The final results showed that the APC won the election in a landslide, clearing all 18 local government areas.
A former deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa ascended to power on December 27th, 2023 after Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s death.
Akeredolu died after a lengthy battle with illness and had before his demise transmitted power to Aiyedatiwa.
He, thereafter, won the APC’s ticket for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo, pitting him against 17 other candidates including Ajayi who was also a former deputy to Akeredolu during his first term in office.
