Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has stated that he carried on the traditions of his late predecessor, former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who had expressed his desire for Aiyedatiwa to replace him. Aiyedatiwa expressed his hope that Akeredolu had been alive to see his appointment as governor, stating that it would have been an honor for the late leader. On December 27, 2023, Aiyedatiwa took over as the governor of Ondo State, soon after Akeredolu passed away in Germany while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. In an attempt to hold onto the governorship, he plans to run in the state's upcoming November governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa stated that he would have preferred for his late employer to still be alive to witness him take office as the state's governor during a conversation with a few media executives and journalists on Thursday in Akure, the state capital. Aiyedatiwa emphasized that it was the late Akeredolu's desire for him to become the state's next governor and said that the late governor would have been proud of him as a deserving successor. "I am proud to say that I am a part of Akeredolu's legacies," the governor declared. He has always wanted me to take over for him.

On the first day of our inauguration, he said that. He said that several times during our Exco sessions. "I would have rather he had stayed behind and observed me lead the state." I'm sure he'll be pleased with me.

The governor said that he had learned several traits from the way his former boss led, such as facing problems head-on without fear. He also mentioned how close he was to the late governor. "Akeredolu was my trainer. This was a man who never held back when it came to national concerns. He claims his thoughts are unaffected by his quest. All eyes will be on him when he speaks. "We absorb his attributes in governing," he extolled. On Thursday night, at the MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, a victorious soul crusade marked the beginning of the burial preparations for the deceased former governor.

This was revealed in a statement released on Thursday by Mr. Richard Olatunde, the late governor's chief press secretary. "As we bid farewell, we acknowledge that our parting is not one of finality," Olatunde stated. Rather, our commitment is to safeguarding the legacy of Akeredolu and the honorable things he performed throughout his lifetime. His impact endures even after his passing since he will always be our source of inspiration and guidance.