Death and funeral of Peter Akale

* Savanna Hospital
* Governor's Office

The death of Peter Akale was reported by SNTV News outside of the Governor's Office. The reporter, Elizabeth Maga, stated that the press was attempting to confirm the death at the Governor's Office. Reportedly, Akale was being treated in a hospital for injuries sustained in a car accident, but the exact cause of his demise was unknown. The time and cause of death remained unknown for some time, and by his funeral, most had assumed he passed due to trauma or some condintion related to a stroke.

Although intialy shocked, Peter's Deputy Governor, Angela Ochello, declared her intentions to become the next Governor as per the State Constitution. She was inaguarted as the Chief Executive the next day. The event caused sudden shock and distress throughout the political world of Savannah, as Akale had only completed one year of his four year term, The abrubt anocuncment also caused confusion, as his condition was unknown to many at the time. Peter Akale was widely seen as a charismatic and experienced politician.

## Background

### Election

Peter Akale served as the Governor of Savannah State for about a year. Akale was a member of the powerful Shining Light Group, which in turn was a part of the larger ‘ruling party.’ Akale ran in the ruling party’s primary election to determine a nominee for Governor and Deputy Governor in the Savannah State gubernatorial election. Akale won the primary. The Primrose Group, another faction within the party, did not support Akale in the primaries, and struck a deal with the Shining Light Group (SLG). For his election ticket, Akale chose Angela Momoh-Alli Ochello of the Primrose Faction, who was the daughter of Primrose Chief Momoh-Alli. The chief of the SLG, Sobifa Thompson, agreed to the terms, and the Akale-Ochello ticket ran in the election.

Privately, Akale and the SLG formulated an agreement. The deal was that after Akale finished his term as Governor, he would resign to allow Friday Bello, his designated Commissioner of Finance to replace him, or would endorse Bello during the next primary session and subsequent election. The designated Chief of Staff to Akale, Henry Duke, was aware but not involved with the agreement. Angela Ochello, the party’s nominee for Deputy Governor, was not. The Akale-Ochello ticket won the gubernatorial election, Akale appealing to moderates and his running mate appealing to women and younger voters. After his swearing-in, Akale formed his cabinet, which included members of opposing factions of the ruling party, as well as politically unspecified appointees.

### Government contract scandal

Although Akale’s government was well respected, and progressive in the fact that he had a woman as his Deputy Governor, in reality his government was riddled with corrupt officials and delayed projects. Akale’s government was able to lower crime and reduce flooding, along with striking a deal with the Chinese government, but various domestic infrastructure projects were either delayed or postponed indefinitely. These projects included welfare projects, development centers for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, but the most significant were infrastructure projects. Akale’s administration had paid various contractors to repair a large number of roads, most of which heading out of the state into the suburbs, such as Atoke. It was later revealed that a number of investors and shareholders in these companies were actually party members and members of the State Assembly. The money paid for via taxpayer money provided by the state government was never actually used for any projects Akale signed off on. As a result, car accidents and pedestrian deaths on roads skyrocketed, as their condition worsened.

## Car Accident

After signing a memorandum of understanding between Savannah State and the People’s Republic of China relating to the Chinese Deal at the Governor’s Office, Akale left with his Chief of Staff Henry Duke to the Conference Room. The room, also used for inaugurations, was being prepared for the Governor’s Annual Press Conference. Besides Akale and Duke, Deputy Governor Angela Ochello was also in attendance, along with members of the Secret Service and the press core. Akale arrived with Henry, and touted various accomplices of his administration. Akale was led out of the door by the Secret Service, which at the time was led by Chief Security Officer (CSO) Musa. After speaking with Ochello, Henry Duke caught up with the Governor outside the office, and the convoy departed.

Akale, along with Henry Duke, were supposed to go to Ajase State across the border to attend the funeral of an influential party member who was a member of the Ajase State Assembly. The roads exiting Savannah were incredibly under repaired. As the convoy was traveling, a driver of a truck lost control and crashed into the convoy, hitting Akale’s official car with the most impact. Henry Duke was in the same car and Musa was also in the convoy, but neither were injured as badly as the Governor. Akale was rushed to Savanna Hospital by Duke, Musa, and medical services. Upon his admission into the hospital’s emergency ward, it was realized that Akale had suffered extensive trauma during the accident, and was suffering a severe coma.

## Hospital Admission

The Savannah State Secret Service was assigned to only allow authorized individuals into Akale’s private ward. Doctor Fred took Akale under his care at the hospital. Henry Duke and Musa remained at the hospital. Akale’s first visitors were three members of the Shining Light Group faction: Chief Sobifa Thompson, Doctor Jalo, and Senator Briggs, also known as the Big Three. They told Musa to withhold any information regarding Peter from the press. Later Magdalen Akale, the First Lady of Savannah State, arrived at the private ward. Gbenga Momoh-Alli, Deputy Governor Ochello and her husband David Ochello also arrived for visitation. Upon Akale’s incapacitation, Ochello became Acting Governor.

Akale’s stay at the hospital was mired by incompetence and lack of proper treatment. The hospital, one of the best in the country, lacked adequate equipment despite relatively well trained staff and doctors. Files were occasionally misplaced, and it was speculated that some of the hospital staff may have leaked information regarding Akale’s condition. Political infighting often took precedence over Akale’s well being and the wishes of his family; a growing feud within the party and concerns about the public response exacerbated issues as well. Akale’s condition worsened throughout his stay at the hospital. Akale sustained trauma during the accident that caused him to enter a coma. Dr. Fred reported that Akale’s brain was beginning to swell. He said it would be difficult to operate to reduce the swelling, given the lack of proper equipment and instruments.

### Attempts to fly Akale out

During Akale’s stay, Magdalen Akale repeatedly requested for her husband to be flown out to Switzerland to receive proper care, citing the lack of proper equipment and perceived incompetence. Magdalen revived initial resistance from Musa and the Big Three, who actively delayed flying Peter out for as long as possible. Henry Duke led the efforts to get flown Peter out, after it was decided he had a better chance of living if he received treatment elsewhere. However there were multiple roadblocks. The ambulance set to transfer Akale had a nail in one of the tires, with the other one missing.  Henry had set up a charter flight, but it was ultimately canceled after.

Meanwhile the Big Three hotly debated flying Akale out. There were concerns that Magdalen may try to fly Peter out and once in Switzerland would hold him hostage in a bid for ransom money from the State. Ultimately, the Big Three issued directives to Musa and the Secret Service, along with some cabinet members, to delay Peter’s exit as much as possible.

When charter plans were ruled out, air ambulances were seen as possible alternative transport. Doctor Jalo, who owned one of the three air ambulances companies in Savannah, offered to fly Peter out for free to Henry Duke. Duke accepted the offer, and Magdalen instructed the hospital staff to prepare him for transfer the next day

### Death declaration

Later, Henry Duke went missing shortly after exiting the main entrance of the hospital and entering his car. While at a market the next morning, Henry was kidnapped by a gang, and driven away in his own car while unconscious. He wouldn't be remedied until Angela Ochello’s inauguration.

Meanwhile, Musa has returned to the hospital to finalize Akale’s transfer to the airport. When trying to contact Henry, an alarm went off inside the hospital as Akale suffered a seizure. Dr. Fred hospital staff rushed to the private ward, along with Musa and Magdalen. Unfortunately it was too late, and Peter Akale was pronounced dead moments later.

## Succession Crisis

During Akale’s incapacitation, Angela Ochello was the acting Governor. The Big Three wanted to preserve their original succession plan agreement with Akale, and actively subverted Ochello from learning information. Friday Bello and Henry Duke led meetings without her knowledge, until she walked in on after being told by her ADC. During the crisis, Ochello was hardly recognized as being the acting Governor, let alone having any legitimate powers. The Big Three tried multiple times to get Ochello to resign in the backdrop of Akale’s coma. In case Akale were to die, the SLG preferred Friday Bello to succeed Akale, as his loyalties were to the SLG. Despite multiple efforts to convince Ochello to resign, she ultimately refused. Within the Akale Cabinet, members divided into the various factions they were apart of.

## Announcement

When Akale died, the Big Three insturtcted Musa to conceal the information. Upon his death, the only ones who knew were Magdalen Akale, Dr. Fred. Musa, hospital staff, and later the Big Three and Friday Bello, when Chief Thompson made the announcement. Musa and the Secret Service blocked Akale’s ward and swore the hospital staff to absoloute secrecry regading Peter’s death. Magdalen was sedated in the hospital, shorlty fater collpasing when she realized Akale was dying. As such, no information was relased to the press or any news organization, and now annoucnemnet of death was made by the governor’s office.

Deputy Governor Angela Ochello, as well as most of the Cabinet, were compelety unaware about the situation at the hospital. As far as the Ochellos were concerned, Akale would make a recovery and return to his post as Governor. Although there was public support for Ochello to succeed Akale if anything were to happen, most believed his death to be unlikely.

After Angela Ochello refused to resign, the Big Three were furious and initiated a backup plan. Friday Bello instructed Musa to leak the news that Peter Akale had died to the press. At this point Henry Duke was still being held hostage for ransom by Fagbo’s gang in a case of mistaken identity. Shortly after, SNTV news reporter Elizabeth Maga, along with other members of the press gathered in front of the Governor’s Office to confirm that Peter Akale had died. Shortly aftewards, Maga conducted an inteview with Ochello in her office at the Governor’s Office. Ochello wan’t aware of the news until Lola, her ADC turned on the television to Maga’s report SNTV. During the interview, Ochello confirmed she intend to succeed Akale as Governor.

Ochello was sworn is as Governor the following day, where she reunited with Henry Duke who had been freed from his captors. Ochello was sworn in at the Governor's Office, in the same room where Peter Akale delivered his final press conference. With Ochello sworn in, the original succession plan established by the Big Three was interupted, as Friday Bello remained as Finance Commisioner.

## Funeral

The funeral of Peter Akale took place the day after Angela Ochello's swearing-in, at a local cemertary in Savannah. Shorly before, Magdalen was taken out of sedation, and returned to the Governor's Mansion where she recieved condonleses from Angela Ochello. Despite the Governor's Office confirming Akale's death, the exact cause and location of his death remained a mystery. there was speculation that Akale died in the hospital, or possibly even the Governor's Mansion. By the time of the funeral, newspapers and news networks had broke the story to the public.

At the funeral, Akale was brought via a black police hearse, and was buried at the cemertary. Most attendees wore all black. The procession led by Magdalen Akale, Governor Ochello and her husband David, and party chief Sobifa Thompson, included various cabinet members, party elites. family members, and Secret Service. The procession walked to the site of his burial, and proceeded through the funeral to entrance where the coffin, escorted by police, first arrived at the site. Doctor Jalo and Senator Briggs also attened the funeral, although were seen having an argument the cemertary entrance.

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### **Notable attendees**

1. Magdalen Akale
2. Angela Ochello
3. David Ochello
4. Sobifa Thompson
5. Henry Duke
6. Friday Bello
7. Senator Briggs
8. Doctor Jalo
9. Sheri Jacobs
10. Lola
11. Sam

## Aftermath

Akale's death and funeral changed the political fate of Savannah. With the swearing-in of Angela Ochello and the ushering in of her administration led to the exposure of political corruption within the state government. Akale, who had served as a mentor to both Ochello and Duke never saw his projects completed, although work began under Ochello's governement. Angela Ochello became the first female governor in the history of Savannah.