Tinubu Congratulates Aiyedatiwa on Fresh Term in Office

Tinubu Congratulates Aiyedatiwa on Fresh Term in Office

•As Gov Appoints Pa Fasoranti’s Son SSG

 JOEL OLADELE, Abuja 

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on his fresh term in office.

Also, the new governor appointed Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, son of the Afenifere leader, as his Secretary to the State Government, reinforcing his administration’s focus on collaboration and leadership continuity.

Aiyedatiwa was inaugurated on Monday as the 7th governor of Ondo State, succeeding the late Rotimi Akeredolu. His inauguration, held at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, marks the beginning of a fresh four-year term following a decisive electoral victory.

Congratulating Aiyedatiwa via a statement signed by his Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged the governor to use his mandate to serve the people of the state and build upon the legacy of his predecessor, the late Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu.

“I congratulate you on your successful inauguration today for a new term of office after an outstanding run in the last governorship election in Ondo State.

“You have the rare privilege to succeed your illustrious predecessor, who worked for the growth and development of the state and advanced the progress of Nigeria as a whole,” Tinubu said.

The President further urged Aiyedatiwa to work in the best interest of the people of Ondo State and the nation.

“I will be your partner in progress to usher in a new era of prosperity to the people of Ondo State,” Tinubu added.

The ceremony came two months after Aiyedatiwa won the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He 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.

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.

Aiyedatiwa Appoints Pa Fasoranti’s Son as SSG

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has appointed Dr Taiwo Fasoranti as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Taiwo is the son of Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leader of pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere.

The appointment is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Monday in Akure.

Until his appointment as SSG, Fasoranti, who hails from Akure South Local Government, was the Chairman of the Ondo State Hospitals Management Board.

The governor also reappointed Dr Kayode Ajulo as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Mrs Omowunmi Isaac as Commissioner for Finance.

Aiyedatiwa also approved the appointment of four Special Advisers; Engr Johnson Alabi on Power; Seun Osamaye on Women Affairs; Mr Bola Taiwo on Union Matters and Special Duties; and Prof. Simidele Odimayo on Health.

The governor said the Senior Special Assistant on Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Engr. Abiola Olawoye, had been elevated to the position of Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Lands and Housing.

Aiyedatiwa urged the appointees “to hit the ground running by providing effective and efficient services to the people of Ondo State.”

He said that all appointments were with immediate effect.