The Ondo State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has expressed deep concerns over the lack of transparency surrounding the health condition of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. The party criticized the silence from the governor’s camp and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, stating that the secrecy surrounding Akeredolu’s medical records was alarming.
SDP State Chairman Stephen Adewale voiced the party’s concerns in a statement issued on Thursday. Adewale emphasized that the governor’s health status should not be shrouded in secrecy and called for transparency regarding his condition.
While acknowledging that Governor Akeredolu’s health issues were not new, as confirmed by a viral voice note released by the First Lady, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu Akeredolu, in recent weeks, the SDP expressed disappointment that the governor and the APC in Ondo State had not addressed the rumors surrounding his battle with blood cancer, alleged bedridden condition, and his reported inability to sign documents.
The party believed that the silence and failure to deny or confirm the information implied consent from the governor’s camp. Adewale raised serious doubts about Akeredolu’s ability to continue governing the Sunshine State effectively as his health conditions remained undisclosed.
The state of the governor’s health has become a topic of curiosity and concern for the people of Ondo State. This situation, according to the SDP, undermines the government’s ability to fulfill its obligations, including providing economic pathways for the many residents facing poverty and uncertainty due to the removal of subsidies by the APC-led federal government.
The SDP called on Governor Akeredolu, also known as Arakunrin, to respect the citizens of Ondo State who elected him twice by presenting his medical records to the public. The party believed that the people had the right to know about their governor’s health conditions.
The SDP emphasized that while ordinary residents had the right to keep their health state private, elected officials like Governor Akeredolu, whose treatment is funded by the public, cannot hide behind personal rules. As a trustee and the governor of Ondo State, Akeredolu is required to accurately inform the residents about his present medical conditions, according to the party.
The SDP stated that providing full access to the governor’s medical data would prevent speculation, embarrassing commentary, and incomplete or erroneous reports about his health. They reminded Governor Akeredolu that he was once a vocal critic who called for the resignation of the late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua when he suffered poor health in 2009. The party expressed disappointment that Akeredolu had not followed the same path by being transparent and disclosing the true state of his health while battling with illness.
