Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (born 21 July 1956) is a
Nigerian
Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jour ...
lawyer and
politician
A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking, a ...
who is currently the
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
of
Ondo State
Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...
, in office since 24 February 2017. His adopted prefix is "Arakunrin", while his nickname is "Aketi".
He is a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. It is the equivalent of the rank of Queen's Coun ...
(SAN) who became president of the
Nigerian Bar Association
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. T ...
in 2008. Akeredolu was also a Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former
Attorney General and Minister for Justice of
Nigeria
Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
. On 21 July 2020, he was declared as the
Ondo Ondo may refer to:
Japan
* Ondo, Hiroshima
* Ondo (music), a style of folk music
* ''Ondo'' class oiler, ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy
Nigeria
* Ondo City
* Ondo State
* Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo
* Ondo Kingdom (c. 1510–1899)
People ...
governorship candidate after the primary elections under the platform of the
APC. He is the current
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
of
Ondo State
Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...
and doubles as the chairman of
Southwest
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each sepa ...
Governors Forum.
Birth and education
Akeredolu was born on 21 July 1956 in
Owo to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu,
Ese Odo
Ese Odo is a Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria, populated by the Ijaw (Izon) ethnic sub groups of the Western Apoi tribe and the Arogbo tribe. Its headquarters are in the town of Igbekebo. The biggest towns within this Local Governm ...
, in
Ondo State
Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...
.
Akeredolu started his primary education at a government school in Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College,
Akure
Akure is a city in south-western Nigeria. It is the capital and largest city of Ondo State. The city had a population of 403,000 as at the 2006 population census.
History
Pre 1914
Rock engravings dating back to the Mesolithic period, ha ...
,
Loyola College, Ibadan
Loyola College, Ibadan (LCI) is a Boys only Government-owned College in Oyo State, Nigeria founded by the Catholic Missionary in 1954. It is located within old Ife road, Agodi area in Ibadan. Since being established, the school has produced lumi ...
and a comprehensive high school,
Ayetoro
Ayetoro lies on the latitude 70 12’N and longitude 30 3’ E in a deciduous- derived savannah zone of Ogun State
Ogun State is a state in southwestern Nigeria. Created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. Ogun State borders ...
, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively. His middle name "Odunayo" means "Year of happiness" in
Yoruba
The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
He went on to the
University of Ife
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...
(now
Obafemi Awolowo University
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a federal government-owned university that is located in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The university was founded in 1961 and classes commenced in October 1962 as the University of Ife ...
) to study law, graduating in 1977. He was referred to as the
Nigerian Bar
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. T ...
1978.
[
]
Career
Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State
Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...
from 1997 to 1999. In 1998, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is a title that may be conferred on legal practitioners in Nigeria of not less than ten years' standing and who have distinguished themselves in the legal profession. It is the equivalent of the rank of Queen's Coun ...
. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006).[ In November 2009 he faced allegations of ]corruption
Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...
when the Bar Association's third Vice-President, Welfare Secretary and Assistant Financial Secretary circulated a petition
A petition is a request to do something, most commonly addressed to a government official or public entity. Petitions to a deity are a form of prayer called supplication.
In the colloquial sense, a petition is a document addressed to some offi ...
entitled "Complaints against your fraudulent manifestations, violation of the NBA". Subsequently, the allegation
In law, an allegation is a claim of an unproven fact by a party in a pleading, charge, or defense. Until they can be proved, allegations remain merely assertions. s against him were reviewed and dropped by the National Executive council of the Nigerian Bar Association
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. T ...
.
In a lecture in December 2009, Akeredolu said no amount of electoral reform
Electoral reform is a change in electoral systems which alters how public desires are expressed in election results. That can include reforms of:
* Voting systems, such as proportional representation, a two-round system (runoff voting), instant-r ...
or judicial system could give Nigeria free and fair elections if Nigerians themselves refused to take practical steps to ensure that their votes count. Later that month he stated that Umaru Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua (16 August 19515 May 2010) was a Nigerian politician who, was the President of Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. He was declared the winner of the Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May 20 ...
, the President of Nigeria should have handed over to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957)Lawson Heyford, ''The Source'' (Lagos), 11 December 2006. is a Nigerian politician who served as the President of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to fo ...
in an acting capacity during his illness
A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not immediately due to any external injury. Diseases are often known to be medical conditions that a ...
, a statement that was backed up by the Nigerian Bar Association
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. T ...
who said he was authorized to speak on their behalf.
In 2012, the Nigerian Bar Association
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. T ...
named its new secretariat in Abuja after him, with its president citing the reason being the need for "generational identification and recognition of those who had contributed immensely to the development of the association. The sheer courage for him (Akeredolu) to go through the rigour is a testimony to his selfless service."
On 4 February 2022, he was awarded as the Grand Patron of the NDLEA.by the Chairman of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen. Mohammed Marwa (rtd).
Governorship candidate
In November 2011, Akeredolu was among a crowd of aspirants to be Action Congress of Nigeria
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), formerly known as Action Congress (AC), was a Nigerian political party formed via the merger of a faction of Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several othe ...
(ACN) candidate for Governor of Ondo State in the 2013 elections. During an interview that month, Akeredolu said that he had become well known and respected as president of the Bar, and described himself as a progressive. If elected, his priorities would include agricultural development, fish farming for export, improvements to education, jobs for youths and improved roads. He would provide free education and primary health care. He was in favour of increased subsidies and greater local control over public spending.
On 28 July 2012, On Akeredolu was selected as the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN)
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), formerly known as Action Congress (AC), was a Nigerian political party formed via the merger of a faction of Alliance for Democracy, the Justice Party, the Advance Congress of Democrats, and several othe ...
candidate for Governor of Ondo State
Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...
during the ACN congress in Akure. His selection pitched him in a head-to-head battle with the incumbent, Olusegun Mimiko
Olusegun Rahman Mimiko ( yo, Olúṣẹ́gun Mímikò ; born 3 October 1954), is a Nigerian doctor and politician, he was the senatorial candidate of the Zenith Labour Party for Ondo Central District in the 2019 Senate elections. He served as ...
and Mr Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Akeredolu promised to create 30,000 jobs in his first 100 days in office. His promise was refuted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a ruse. His promise nonetheless resulted in the submission of over 10,000 CVs to his campaign office.
On Saturday September 3, 2016, in a controversial primary election that rocked the ruling party during which Asiwaju Bola Tinubu a major party voice and National Leader of the ruling APC demanded the resignation of the party's chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, Akeredolu was awarded ticket to represent the All Progressive Congress (APC) the 2016 elections for governor. On Sunday, 27 November 2016, he was declared winner of the keenly contested 2016 Ondo State gubernatorial election.
In 2020, Aketi Movement gathered the support of over 100 groups with 200,000 members across the three senatorial districts of Ondo State for the re-election of Aketi as the state governor.
On 29 July 2020, Rotimi Akeredolu Picked Lucky Aiyedatiwa as his running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position (such as the vice presidential candidate running with a pr ...
for the Ondo State 2020 governorship election after the controversy between the Governor and his Deputy, Agboola Ajayi.
He was declared winner of the October 2020 governorship election in Ondo State on the 11th of October 2020 after winning 15 out of 18 local governments.
Governor of Ondo State
On Sunday, 27 November 2016, Akeredolu was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established in 1998 and is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria.
History
Regulation and administration of elections
The administration of democratic elections in Nige ...
as the winner of the Ondo State Governorship Election. He amassed 244, 842 votes in the election while Mr. Jegede with 150,380 votes and Mr. Oke with 126,889 votes. According to Professor Ganiyu Ambali, INEC Returning Officer, Akeredolu defeated two major opponents, Eyitayo Jegede of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Olusola Oke of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), to clinch victory. He was sworn in as the governor of Ondo State on 24 February 2017 in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.
He won the battle to re-contest for the Ondo State
Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to ...
2020 governorship election after beating Olusola Oke, DI Kekemeke, Jimi Odimayo, Segun Abraham and others in the APC primary election.
On Saturday 10 October 2020, Akeredolu was re-elected Governor of Ondo State and announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was established in 1998 and is the electoral body which oversees elections in Nigeria.
History
Regulation and administration of elections
The administration of democratic elections in Nige ...
on 11 October 2020. He won with a total number of 292,830 valid votes against his major opponents from the People's Democratic Party People's Democratic Party or ''variant thereof'', could refer to:
* People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan
*People's Democratic Party (Belize)
*People's Democratic Party (Bhutan)
*People's Democratic Party (Chile)
* People's Democratic Party (Dom ...
and the Zenith Labour Party
This is list of political parties in Nigeria.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has a multi-party system. The largest by National Assembly seats are the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP). There are also a n ...
, Eyitayo Jegede and Agboola Ajayi respectively.
He was sworn-in for a second term in office on Feb 24,2021. His new Deputy in person of Lucky Aiyedatiwa, assumed office on the same date and he is the incumbent
The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seeking re-ele ...
Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
He has advocated for the payment of taxes in the state to help boost the economy of the state and fulfilments of obligations.
Following the June 2022 Owo church attack
On 5 June 2022, a mass shooting and bomb attack occurred at a Catholic church in the city of Owo in Ondo State, Nigeria. At least 40 people were killed, with the highest estimates being around 80. Some in the federal government of Nigeria susp ...
against Catholics in Ondo, Akeredolu condemned the attack as "satanic."
He is currently starting up a sea port project in Ondo state and he has stated that his administration was committed to the completion project, which was initiated in his first term, saying the port would not only serve Nigeria but also the whole of West Africa once built.
National honours
In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) was conferred on Akeredolu by President Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician and current president of Nigeria since 2015.
Buhari is a retired Nigerian Army major general who served as the country's military head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 A ...
.
See also
* Tunde Eso
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akeredolu, Oluwarotimi
1956 births
Living people
People from Owo
20th-century Nigerian lawyers
Senior Advocates of Nigeria
Obafemi Awolowo University alumni
Yoruba legal professionals
Loyola College, Ibadan alumni
Politicians from Ondo State
All Progressives Congress politicians
Yoruba politicians
21st-century Nigerian lawyers