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 I am with the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate and governor of Ondo State.

I cannot fairly 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 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 in the last 6 years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication and forthrightness. His footprints dot the entire landscape in the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many school 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 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 on him to contest for the governorship position of Ondo State in 2012. Even though he didn’t make it in 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, ally and associate, he was a brother and 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.

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Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu

Early Life

He was born on 21st July, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State to Late Rev. J. O Ola Akeredolu of Owo and Lady Evang. Grace Akeredolu of Igbotu Ese Odo Government Area of Ondo State. The young Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.

Education

AKETI as fondly called by friends and admirers started his primary School education at Government School Owo before proceeding to the famous Aquainas College Akure in 1968. He later proceeded to the prestigious Loyola College, Ibadan in 1969 to complete his secondary school Education. He also attended Comprehensive High School Ayetoro for his higher Secondary School Certificate.

Oluwarotimi was admitted into the famous University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) IN 1974 popularly known as Oba Awon University. He obtained his LLB degree in 1977 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for his B.L in 1978.

The pedigree of Akeredolu tells a riveting story of a rebel with a cause. Apart from his illustrious ancestry and cosmopolitan upbringing, a peep into his tenure as elected Vice President 1975/76, of the student University days at the famous and prestigious University Of Ife now (Obafemi Awolowo University) shows the architecture of service, fame and greatness in the making.

As a leader of the Students Union at Ife, Aketi helped to engineer a leadership focused on issues, robust debates and constructive engagements. He encouraged a genuine mobilization of mass consciousness against inequality, injustice, corruption, arbitrariness and recklessness. By the time he was graduating, the startling and sterling leadership qualities of honesty, tolerance, fairness, transparency, endurance, vision, teamwork, justice and self-respect have all become the chisel which etched out the man’s character and ideological leaning in all of his endeavors in the subsequent years.

Personal life and Family

A devoted Christian with a warm and accommodating heart for people of other faiths, Akeredolu has limitlessly supported a wide range of religious organizations in Ondo State and beyond, an Example of such is the recent dedication of a Chapel of Epiphany at his Owo residence for propagation of Gospel. He was honored by the Lord Bishop of no least a denomination than the Anglican Communion as the Chancellor of the Cathedral of St. Andrews Church, Owo, his hometown.

In addition to a distinguished and Spartan career of legal practice, Aketi also donated his lifetime to a career of mentorship and social service. He was a member, Oyo State Football association, 1992-1994, associate Member, Nigerian Red Cross society, Oyo State Branch. He also accepted and became the Patron, The Nigerian law society, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Patron, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria(BRECAN), Patron The law society, Faculty of Law, Adekunle Ajasin University, akungba-akoko. He was also the Patron, Sports Writers association of Nigeria, Oyo State branch.

Oluwarotimi, a dogged fighter, indefatigable, tenacious advocate, diligent solicitor and one who is unyielding and unbending in any cause he believes in, A gentleman in the finest and truest sense, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN is an accomplished family man. A detribalized Nigerian, Aketi is happily married to Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and blessed with four children who are doing well .

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