Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, is sick, his wife, Betty Akeredolu, has said. But she did not disclose the nature of the sickness.
Investigation by an online new porter  SaharaReporters, has revealed that the governor is treating an ailment called leukemia, blood cancer.
“The governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has leukemia, he is really down,” the report quoted one of the sources in the Government House as saying.
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood caused by a rise in the number of white blood cells in the body.
It is a cancer of blood-forming tissues that hinders the body’s ability to fight infections.
White blood cells are considered potent infection fighters which grow and divide in an orderly way, as the body needs them. But for those with leukemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood cells, which do not function properly.
Treatment for leukemia can be complex depending on the type of leukemia and other factors.
The governor’s wife recently cried out that her husband was sick after taking a “concoction” from one of his female aides, Bunmi Ademosun.
In a leaked audio file, the First Lady accused Ademosun, the special adviser to the governor on Multilateral and Inter-Governmental Affairs, of sneaking to give Akeredolu a local herbal drink.
“This is Arabinrin, I have a message for Ademosun and I believe that she’s on this Aketi’s women platform. I want this woman to stay away from my husband, stop sneaking in concoction.
“According to her, they are from her fake pastors to give my husband to drink. We rely on medical care. We rely on western style of medical care and Aketi will get well.
“What has triggered this very message is her recent meetings to become the deputy governor of Ondo state. Look at you, what have you got upstairs to become the deputy governor of Ondo state? Peradventure anything happens to Aketi, Lucky takes over, it’s a constitutional thing. But for you to be scheming, for you to be scheming. I warned Aketi from the beginning that this woman is evil, this woman is no good and it’s happening. She has nothing good for you and I warned you. This woman is bloody evil. But I’m warning her for the very last time to stay away from my husband.
“And look, if you are dealing with an Igbo woman in this kind of situation, I’ll deal with you mercilessly that you won’t forget in your life. For the very last time Ademosun, stay away from Aketi, you won’t find it funny with me. You are a very terrible woman, go away and enjoy your look,” the governor’s wife is heard saying in an audio file.
But the governor in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said his health issue was not an unusual one, and that the governor was not incapacitated.
In a statement on Tuesday, the spokesperson said the challenge was not life-threatening.
He said though the governor is physically frail, he was still carrying out his official duties.
The statement read in part, “We have observed the growing anxiety about the State of Health of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.

“Governor Akeredolu, just like every other mere mortal has had some health challenge for which he has since received treatment and recuperating speedily.

“Since the Governor is not a superhuman and the immunity his office enjoys does not extend to physical wellness or otherwise, the health issue is therefore not an unusual one.

“However, contrary to speculations and insinuations making the round, the Governor though frail, is discharging his official functions.

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“Mr Governor is not faced with any life-threatening illness that would have encouraged any alleged conspiracy in his administration.
”He, in fact, held Executive Council meeting with the Exco members till 4pm on Wednesday, 11th January, 2023 after the Security Council meeting where far-reaching decisions were taken on the escalated clashes in Ikare-Akoko.
“On January 7, 2023 Governor Akeredolu led his brother Governors in the Southwest and other party bigwigs to receive the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure for the State Presidential Campaign Rally. On January 8, 2023, he was at The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Jesus House Cathedral, Region 22 Headquarters, Oke-Ijebu, Akure for the Holy Service commemorating the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.
“For emphasis, the governor, who participated in rigorous campaign activities on the 7th of January, couldn’t have been bedridden as widely speculated.”
This is not the first time the governor would be down with a major ailment.
In April 2022, SaharaReporters reported that the Ondo state governor was hospitalised in Germany after falling ill.
In 2019, he was also out of the state for five weeks while seeking medical attention in Germany and Abuja, Nigeria.
“Yes, I needed to seek medical attention. It was nothing so serious as overblown because it is routine. But on my return, I needed to take some time off based on advice. It wasn’t as serious as people blew it,” he had said after arriving in Nigeria from Germany.
“But basically, my stay back in Abuja was indeed not a serious period to even rest because I had to attend to a lot of issues that will move the state forward.
“I received in audience a world-class medical foundation, Medicus International, from Germany as I presided over the signing of the MoU for them to build a world-class Medical city in Akure.
“You are aware that I attended the governors’ forum meeting as well as the National Economic Council meeting and several others. Of particular note was the meeting I held with the World Bank that will bring in a capital of about $19 million for the development of the state. As you can see, I’m back fresher and stronger to continue the work the good people of the state mandated me to do.”
The governor’s confirmation of his illness contradicts the position of Donald Ojogo, the then-information commissioner, who had earlier said Akeredolu did not seek medical attention.
In April 2022, he described reports that Akeredolu was ill as wicked and misleading.