The recent demise of Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has brought to mind the governors who died while in office in Nigeria.
Rotimi Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and ex-Attorney General of Ondo State, was serving his second term as governor before his untimely death.
Known as “Aketi” to his friends and admirers, he was recognized for his strong leadership and unwavering personal convictions.
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Akeredolu was also the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, a body comprising the governors of the 17 states in Southern Nigeria.
Another governor who met a tragic end while in office was Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa.
He served as the governor of Kaduna State from 2010 to 2012 when he died in a helicopter crash. The crash occurred in Ogbia Creek, Bayelsa state, and claimed the lives of Yakowa and five others.
Yakowa had previously served as deputy governor and was sworn in as governor in May 2010, succeeding former Governor Namadi Sambo who had become the vice president.
Mamman Bello Ali,who represented Yobe South Senatorial District from 1999 to 2007, also met a similar fate.
He served as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Account and successfully contested and won the governorship election in Yobe in 2007 under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
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However, his tenure was cut short when he passed away in 2009.The deaths of these governors while in office have left a void in Nigerian politics and have been a great loss to the nation.
He died of leukaemia while receiving treatment at a hospital in Florida, United States.
Shehu Kangiwa died in office in a polo accident in January 1982. Kangiwa was the governor of Sokoto State at the time of his death.
Kamgiwa’s deputy, Garba Nadama, was sworn in as the Sokoto governor until November 1983 when Muhammadu Buhari took over power through a military coup.
Kangiwa was fondly called the ‘Smiling governor’. He was elected governor of Sokoto under the platform of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) but his administration was short-lived.
He died in November 1981, falling from a horse while playing polo in the 1981 edition of the Georgian League in Kaduna. He left behind nine children at the time.
