Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Friday officially resumed duty from his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, after a three-month medical vacation in Germany.
Akeredolu returned to Nigeria on Thursday from Germany where he spent three months treating an undisclosed ailment.
On Friday, Akeredolu met with stakeholders from the state, including the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, and the state’s deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was acting governor while he was away. Leaders of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress (APC), also met with him at his Ibadan residence.
During the meeting, Akeredolu handed over his resumption letter to Oladiji and provided a copy to Aiyedatiwa.
The governor said by the grace of God, he will be “alive” to complete his tenure, which ends in February 2025.
“I came back yesterday, and as you know, it was a long journey. I decided that I must meet with you today,” the governor was quoted in a statement by Richard Olatunde, his media aide.
Akeredolu added: “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. The 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 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.”
In June, Akeredolu left Nigeria for medical attention in Germany following a letter sent to the state house of assembly of his intention to embark on a 21-day leave.
He asked his deputy to act in his stead.
On July 11, Aiyedatiwa said Akeredolu would resume duty after being certified fit by doctors.
The continuous stay of the Ondo governor in Germany generated concerns among the political class and residents of the state.
The governor was welcomed by his close aides at his residence in Ibadan on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Ondo chapter of the opposition PDP has knocked Akeredolu for resuming his official duties in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, where he landed.
A statement made available to Journalists by the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kennedy Peretei titled: “Akeredolu Relocates Government to Ibadan” alleged that the governor has continued his usual lack of respect for the people of Ondo State by practically relocating his government and State Assembly to his residence in Ibadan.
The party alleged that while Akeredolu was in Germany, attending to his health, Ondo State suffered multidimensional setbacks, from in-fighting to huge sums of money siphoned from the state treasury as medical expenses.
The party said it expected that, since Akeredolu is back in Nigeria, his first point of call should have been Ondo State, where everybody prayed for his quick recovery and return to his duties, instead, he headed for Ibadan and allegedly instructed all Cabinet members and lawmakers to join him.
“This is very absurd and an insult on the sensibility of Ondo State people. If Akeredolu has been certified fit to resume duties, let him notify the Assembly accordingly to conclude the remainder of his tenure for which he has been barely tolerated”, PDP added.