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Former governor of Ondo state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, died in his sleep.

This was stated by his son, Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu Jnr, in a statement he issued in the evening of Wednesday, December 27.

According to the statement: “He died peacefully departed in his sleep at a Hospital in Germany, where he was undergoing treatment for protracted prostate cancer.

“While we are deeply saddened and devastated by his departure, we find solace in the understanding that as he transitions to eternity, he will be guided by the benevolent hands of the angels of light, with whom he resided during his remarkable and fruitful journey on Earth.

Read Also: Akeredolu: Seven things to know about prostate cancer

“During this challenging time, we sincerely appreciate everyone who has stood by us and extended their support since the news broke. We humbly request your prayers and support, while also asking for privacy as we navigate through this trying period.

“Details regarding the burial arrangements will be announced by the family and the State Government in due course.”

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) has described the late governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as “a true Bar man who firmly believed in the ability of the legal profession to make a difference in our society.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Maikyau said: “Aketi will mostly be remembered for his forthrightness and down-to-earth perspectives especially on matters of national importance.”

The statement reads: “It is with a heavy heart that I pay tribute to His Excellency, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo 

Akeredolu, CON, SAN (Aketi), the Executive Governor of Ondo State and Past President of 

the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), whose transition took place on 27 December 2023 after 

a protracted ill-health.

“His Excellency was called to the Bar in 1978 and had served the NBA in several capacities. 

“He variously served as Secretary and Vice Chair of Ibadan Branch and went on to become the 24th President of the Association from 2008 to 2010 – one of the most influential and courageous Presidents ever to lead the NBA.

Read Also: Afenifere, Adefarati, others mourn Akeredolu

“The late learned Senior Advocate also served the nation in various other capacities at different times, one of which was as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice from 1997 to 1999 and later as two-term Governor from 2017 till his demise. 

“Aketi, as he was popularly called, was in our lexicon a true Bar man who firmly believed in the ability of the legal profession to make a difference in our society. 

“It was this belief that led him into politics resulting in being elected twice has the Governor of Ondo State. 

“Aketi will mostly be remembered for his forthrightness and down-to-earth perspectives especially on matters of national importance. 

“He will be positively remembered for his several contributions to the growth and development of Ondo State and the entire region. 

“As Governor, Aketi was at the forefront of the establishment of the regional security network, Amotekun, to address security concerns 

in the western region. 

“So far, the network has been effective in stemming the tide of 

terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, etc., within the region and currently stands as 

a model for other regions to emulate. 

“For his contributions to the progress of Nigeria, he was 

recognized by the Federal Government and conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in October 2022. 

“There is no denying that the 

learned Senior Advocate left indelible footprints in the sands of time. 

“I commiserate with the entire Akeredolu clan, particularly his wife, Betty, and children, on 

this very painful loss. 

“I also extend my condolences to the Ondo State Executive Committee 

and the entire people of Ondo State. 

“Aketi’s departure is our collective loss. My prayer is that God Almighty will comfort the hearts of all members of his family, his colleagues, and 

friends. 

“May the peace of God which is beyond human understanding, protect our hearts and minds through Christ our Lord, Amen.”

The Ondo state governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, died on Wednesday, December 27.

According to a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, the governor died in Germany on Wednesday after battling prostate cancer.

Here are 7 things to know about prostate cancer.

1. Prostate cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder.

2. Early prostate cancer causes no symptoms. Most cases are detected after screening tests – typically blood tests for levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) – indicate unusual growth of prostate tissue. Diagnosis requires a biopsy of the prostate. If cancer is present, the pathologist assigns a Gleason score, with a higher score representing a more dangerous tumor. Medical imaging is performed to look for cancer that has spread outside the prostate. Based on the Gleason score, PSA levels, and imaging results, a cancer case is assigned a stage 1 to 4. Higher stage signifies a more advanced, more dangerous disease.

Read Also: 27 things to know about late Ondo governor Akeredolu

3. Most prostate tumors remain small and cause no health problems. These are managed with active surveillance, monitoring the tumor with regular tests to ensure it has not grown.  Tumors more likely to be dangerous can be destroyed with radiation therapy or surgically removed by radical prostatectomy. Those whose cancer spreads beyond the prostate are treated with hormone therapy that reduces levels of the androgens (male sex hormones) that prostate cells need to survive. Eventually cancer cells grow resistant to this treatment. 

This most-advanced stage of the disease, called castration-resistant prostate cancer, is treated with continued hormone therapy alongside the chemotherapy drug docetaxel. Some tumors spread to other areas of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. There, tumors cause severe bone pain, leg weakness or paralysis, and eventually death.

4. Signs and symptoms Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. As a tumor grows beyond the prostate, it can damage nearby organs causing erectile dysfunction, blood in the urine or semen, or trouble urinating – often frequent urination and slow or weak urine stream. More than half of men over age 50 experience some form of urination problem, typically due to issues other than prostate cancer such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate).

5. Advanced prostate tumors often metastasize to nearby bones of the pelvis and back; there they can cause fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and back or bone pain that does not improve with rest. Metastases can damage the bones around them, and around a quarter of those with metastatic prostate cancer develop a bone fracture. Growing metastases can also compress the spinal cord causing weakness in the legs and feet, or limb paralysis.

6.  Prostate cancer screening: Most cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed through screening tests, when tumors are too small to cause any symptoms. This is done through blood tests to measure levels of the protein prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which are elevated in those with enlarged prostates, whether due to prostate cancer or benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The average man’s blood has around 1 nanogram (ng) of PSA per milliliter (mL) of blood tested. Those with PSA levels below average are very unlikely to develop dangerous prostate cancer over the next 8 to 10 years. 

Men with PSA levels above 4 ng/mL are at increased risk – around 1 in 4 will develop prostate cancer – and are often referred for a prostate biopsy. PSA levels over 10 ng/mL indicate higher risk still; over half of men in this group develop prostate cancer. Men with high PSA levels are often recommended to repeat the blood test four to six weeks later, as PSA levels can fluctuate unrelated to prostate cancer.

7. Diagnosis: Men suspected of having prostate cancer may undergo several tests to help assess the prostate. One common procedure is the digital rectal examination, in which a doctor inserts a lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the nearby prostate. 

Tumors feel like stiff, irregularly shaped lumps against the rest of the prostate. Hardening of the prostate can also be due to benign prostatic hyperplasia; around 20–25% of those with abnormal findings on their rectal exams have prostate cancer.