The Governor of Oyo State, ‘Seyi Makinde’, on Tuesday, arrived Ondo State for the Lying in State and Commendation Service of former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
Governor Makinde, who was represented by his Deputy, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, also attended the Special Court Session organised in his honour at Court 1, Ondo State High Court Headquarters, Hospital road, Akure.
Recall that several dignitaries had on Monday paid tributes to the late Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, at the Evening of Tributes and Service of Songs.
While receiving his corpse at a brief ceremony at the Governor’s office amidst tears and sober reflection, the Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, described the late Governor Akeredolu as a lover of workers.
He asserted that the lives spent by their leader, Arakunrun Rotimi Akeredolu, was symbolic as it was holding at the last place where he served the people of Ondo state meritoriously with passion, equity and justice.
He said: “All what the late Governor did are visible as well as the legacy he left behind. This session is in memory of him to have a unique opportunity for people to pay their last respect and wish him a good night.
“Late Governor Arakunrin Akeredolu was a lover of workers. The late Governor was able to offset six month salaries, he was very passionate about the development of the state.”
Aiyedatiwa, who said he also offset one month workers salary, added that he will continue to follow the Governor’s legacy and policy.
“The late governor remained my former boss and leader.
“The sartorial dressing, the elegant speech, the supreme confidence, depth of character, ebullient and discretion and frugality in human excesses among others were part of the good attributes that defined my boss. He was an achiever and success story. We will continue to remember his good deeds,” he said.
Meanwhile, at the the Special Valedictory Court session, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice A. Olusegun Olusola, described late Akeredolu as a remarkable man who grew up in a Christian home where the values of integrity, honor and hardwork were taught and enforced.
According to him, Akeredolu was popularly known as Aketi, a moniker which evolved in school as a genial corruption of his surname.
“This harmonized with his Arakunrin identity, a prefix he adopted much later as Governor, discarding the all-powerful reference of “His Excellency” for simply Mr. Governor. These are the least expressions of his self-effacing personality.
“Aketi had a robust law practice, most of it in partnership with the former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Akin Olujimi. He was elected into several committees of the Nigerian Bar Association over a period of two decades where he amply displayed his exceptional brilliance and exemplary leadership qualities. These outstanding traits eventually culminated in his unanimous election as President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008. He leveraged on his experience as a former Student Union leader and activist, to domesticate access to justice. He repositioned the Bar as a responsive profession that is fully attuned to the needs of society. He was at a time a member of the National Judicial Council and until his passing, a life Bencher.
“His conferment as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria was another feather to his already loaded cap as a former Attorney General of this State. In recognition of his selfless service to his state and country, he was conferred with the National Honours of Commander of the Order of the Niger by President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR in the year 2022. He was a committed family man who rallied all his siblings and their spouses into a close-knit family that is sustained by love and integrity. He also ran a social circle of friends, mostly made up of old school network as well as professional and political affiliates. He was a prominent member of the Kegites Club whose activities centre around dancing, singing and a humorous linguistic jabs. He was said to be a good songito.”
In her appreciation, Dr Teniola Akeredolu, one of the children of the late Governor, who spoke on behalf of the family, expressed her profound and sincere appreciation to everyone.
She said: “We have heard all the good tribute messages, it has been comforting. The turn out today has shown to us how great our father was. Our father has touched so many lives. We thank you and God bless you all”.
The event was attended by the Chairman of Governor’s Forum and Governor of Kwara state, Abdul Razaq Abdul-Rahman; Deputy Governor of Soko state, Idris Muhammad Gobir; Ondo North Senator, Robert Ajayi Boroffice; Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji; Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Ondo State chapter, Ade Adetimehin; members of the Ondo State House of Assembly; some members of the state executive council, and former members of the State Executive appointed by the late Akeredolu, among others.
