Ondo governor’s newly appointed aide dies days after inaugural meeting

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government has been thrown into mourning following the death of a newly appointed aide to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Iluyemi Fredrick Maxwell, barely two days after attending a meeting with the governor.

Maxwell was among the recently appointed Senior Special Assistants who participated in an inaugural meeting with Aiyedatiwa at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Alagbaka, Akure, on Friday, November 6.

Following the meeting, the deceased posted pictures of himself at the event on Facebook, attracting congratulatory messages from friends and associates celebrating his entry into the state government.

But the celebrations were short-lived as news of his death emerged on Sunday, November 8, prompting an outpouring of grief and disbelief among those who had interacted with him shortly before his passing.

Several social media users expressed shock over the development, with one associate lamenting that Maxwell had only recently been celebrated for securing the government appointment.

“Am I dreaming? I saw him on Facebook on Friday, and people were congratulating him for his new appointment as one of the Senior Special Assistants to the Ondo State Governor. O ma gaoo! Baba, Aba, sun re oo. Missed you so much. Meet you on the resurrection day,” the associate wrote.

The Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Gbegudu Ololade James, also announced the death in a Facebook condolence message, describing Maxwell as a distinguished indigene of Okitipupa Local Government Area.

The circumstances surrounding Maxwell’s death had yet to be made public as of the time of filing this report.