A full list of Nigerian governors who have died while in office has emerged.
Rotimi Akeredolu, the sitting Governor of Ondo State, passed away on Wednesday, December 27, 2027.
The State Government confirmed that the governor succumbed to protracted prostate cancer while undergoing medical treatment in Germany. Akeredolu’s demise marks the third instance of a Nigerian governor losing their life while in office.
Akeredolu, who held the position of Governor from 2017 to 2023, had been on a medical leave in Germany since June 2023.
Despite officially transferring power to his deputy, Aiyedatiwa, he continued to battle health challenges, leading to the extension of his leave indefinitely. The governor returned to Nigeria on September 6, resuming activities at his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Regrettably, on December 11, Akeredolu communicated to the state Assembly his decision to embark on another medical leave.
The announcement left the state in shock, and the subsequent revelation of his demise has cast a pall over Ondo State.
Akeredolu now joins the somber list of Nigerian governors who met their untimely end while serving the nation.
Patrick Yakowa
Among them is Patrick Yakowa, the former Governor of Kaduna State, who perished in a helicopter crash in 2012. Sworn in on May 20, 2010, Yakowa’s two-year tenure was tragically cut short, along with the former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Andrew Azazi (rtd), during a fateful flight from Bayelsa State to Port Harcourt.
Mamman Bello Ali
Another governor on this lamentable list is Mamman Bello Ali of Yobe State. Ali, a former Senator, assumed the gubernatorial role in 2007 and served until his demise in 2009. His tenure was marred by the battle against leukemia, and he breathed his last in a hospital in Florida, United States.
The untimely deaths of these governors highlight the challenges faced by public officials in their service to the nation. As Ondo State mourns the loss of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the nation reflects on the sacrifices made by leaders in the line of duty.
