- An Impossible Task To Fully Capture Rotimi’s Towering Figure, Human Essence In Words-Tinubu
- Aiyedatiwa Becomes Substantive Governor, Orders 3-Day Mourning
- ‘The Man Akeredolu, His Giant Strides, How He Stood Tall
After a long, protracted battle with Leukemia, a form of blood cancer, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has finally succumbed to the cold hands of death throwing the entire nation into mourning.
Tributes and condolence messages have been pouring in from different quarters for the enigmatic, charismatic former governor of Ondo State.
President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House of Reps’ Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, governors, former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, All-Progressives Congress APC National Chairman, Abdulahhi Ganduje are some of the prominent Nigerians that have penned emotional tribute to Aket as he was fondly called.
President Tinubu, in his emotional tribute described him as a fearless statesman and compassionate leader.
The President, in a personal statement, recalled how they fought “many battles together to restore progressive governance”, especially in the South-West geopolitical zone.
Hear him; “It is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul. It is a more difficult job in our African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person. Here am I having the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate, and the Executive Governor of Ondo State.
It is an impossible task to fully capture in words Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence. Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a senior advocate, attorney-general of his beloved state, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.
In a challenging moment of our statehood when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in the wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture so we can have a more secure nation. His unrelenting advocacy led to the birth of the local police in the South West.
Rotimi was a man of ideas and action. While he was with us, he taught us the power of action and service. In Ondo State, where he had the honour to serve as the Governor over the past six years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication, and forthrightness. His footprints dot the entire landscape of the state through the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many schools he built, and healthcare facilities that he provided.
During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the state and killed defenceless citizens where 40 worshippers of the Catholic Church of Owo were killed on June 5, 2022, Rotimi’s leadership qualities as a true statesman and compassionate leader radiated brightly to the world. He was a mourner-in-chief who guided his people through an agonising period. Today, I mourn a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses.
My personal journey with Rotimi started as joint members of the progressive family. We fought many battles together to restore progressive governance in the South West, Edo State, and Nigeria as a whole. During this uncertain period, Rotimi was resolute and unflinching. He showed uncommon courage as a member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, and Osun States.
A gallant lawyer and one of the finest of the legal profession. I beckoned him to contest for the governorship position of Ondo State in 2012. Even though he did not make it in his first attempt, his enthusiasm and determination to serve his people never diminished. He eventually made it to the Alagbaka Government House in his second attempt in the 2016 election, Since he was sworn in in February 2017, he had served the people with devotion.
Rotimi has played his role well and left us untimely. We will never see his likes again. Let me tell the people of Ondo State that I am grieving with you. We will honour Rotimi’s memory and make sure his legacy of service is never forgotten.
In my grief and sadness, I have telephoned his wife, Betty, and Acting Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to commiserate with them and urge them to take heart over this national tragedy.
Governor Akeredolu was not just a friend and associate; the departed leader was a brother and a soulmate.
His death is a blow to our governing APC and the progressive family as we are diminished by it.
I hope that his successor Aiyedatiwa will hold steadfast to the vision of governance left by this towering political leader” he wrote.
On his part, Akpabio, described him as “a nationalist and the Iroko of the Sunshine state.”
Akpabio in a condolence message issued by his special adviser on Media and publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, said Akeredolu was a leader that knew his onions and was indeed the iroko of Ondo state as he defended the state with all his strength as governor.
Similarly, Abbas, the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives expressed grief over the death of Governor Akeredolu, saying it is a painful loss.
Also, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed deep sadness over the passing of Akeredolu.
In a condolence message, NGF chairman and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described Akeredolu as a “voice of reason” whose counsel brought succour to many.
“Aketi was loved by many, a true believer in justice and fairness – a cause he toed dearly to the very end. Amongst many, he was a voice of reason, one whose counsel resonated well and often brought succour,” the statement read.
On its part, the Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation (Afenifere) has said Governor Akeredolu will be greatly missed for his courageous standpoint on issues of the structure of Nigeria.
Afenifere, in a statement issued by its secretary general, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said in all national conversations, Akeredolu aligned with true progressive voices in the advocacy of true federalism insisting on the change of the constitution imposed by the military through which Nigerian federalism is twisted.
Ebiseni said, “As governor of Ondo State Akeredolu observed and attributed growing sectional activism to ‘faulty and twisted federalism’ lamenting that sectional agitation had displaced “national patriotism.”
Former Vice President Atiku said Nigeria will miss the inestimable role Akeredolu played in national development.
In a statement he signed personally, Atiku who said he received the news of his demise with a rude shock and sadness, noting that Akeredolu was a politician of class because he was never known for destructive politics.
On its part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said it is saddened by the death of Akeredolu.
The opposition party described the late governor as a courageous and amiable personality, brilliant lawyer and outstanding administrator with deep understanding and capacity for leadership, especially in his roles towards the unity, stability and development of the nation.
In his tribute, Buhari to Akeredolu, he said “I have lost a valued friend. I pray that his soul finds eternal peace. My thoughts are with the countless people who are inspired by his leadership in law and politics.
Meanwhile, there is an official change of guard in the sunshine state as the newly sworn-in Ondo State governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared three days of mourning in the state (starting today) following the death of his former principal, Akeredolu. He also ordered that all flags fly at half-mast.
Aketi, is a man renowned for his courage, dedication, ability to speak truth to power and moral fortitude and will be remembered for his valiant role in nation-building.
Aketi first contested the Ondo governorship election in 2012 on the platform of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but lost to Olusegun Mimiko.
He contested again in 2016 as the APC candidate and won the election, defeating Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP in the governorship election.
He was re-elected for a second term in 2020 despite facing challenges within the party and allegations of ill health.
Until his death, he was the chairman of the south-west governors’ forum.
He led the south-west governors to establish the Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Amotekun, to protect the region against criminality.
Oftentimes, he held positions that were contrary to the positions of his party.
The federal government said in 2022 that security outfits set up by various state governments cannot bear firearms.
However, Akeredolu said the Ondo state government will procure arms for Amotekun officers.
He said if the federal government can allow a security outfit in Katsina to carry arms, then Amotekun should be granted the same right.
During the naira redesign saga, Akeredolu asked former President Buhari to allow the old and new naira notes to co-exist.
He said the policy had “failed significantly”, calling on Buhari to “halt this needless drift into the abyss of chaos”.
In this 2021 interview with The Platform, Akeredolu said, “the fact that we belong to the political ruling party does not stop us from expressing our view”.
Akeredolu said, “the fact that we belong to the political ruling party does not stop us from expressing our view”.
Akeredolu said: “I have found it difficult particularly with the political class. I’m like somebody coming from a different milieu and it’s not the one they are used to. A few times, I put my feet down, and I say this is what I believe and I think with time, they’ve just come to appreciate my position that when this man takes a position, he is not probably going to change and that is probably the lawyer in me.”
He said he does “not want to be seen as somebody who flip-flops”.
In October 2022, Buhari conferred on him the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). His hobbies include lawn tennis, reading and singing.
As a testament to his simplicity, people-oriented mindset, and deep sense of connection to his roots, Akeredolu adopted “Arakunrin” meaning “Mr”, as a prefix to his name in place of His Excellency.
