Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke; President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN); and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdolrosheed Adewale Akanbi, on Wednesday, mourned the demise of former Ondo State Governor, Rótìmí Akeredolu (SAN), describing his death as a huge national loss.
Recall that Tribune Online reports on Wednesday that the ailing Ondo State Governor, who had been on medical leave for months, passed on.
Reacting, Governor Adeleke in a statement in Osogbo, said he was deeply touched by the demise of Akeredolu, saying the deceased made great contributions to Nigeria in the legal field and public service.
According to him, Arakunrin Akeredolu was one of the finest minds in the country’s legal profession, and as a colleague in the Governor’s Forum, his wise counsel and constructive contributions is hard to miss. Nigeria lost one of its finest, and I’m hugely shaken. “.
“In this moment of grief and pain, I offer my deepest sympathy to everyone touched by Arakunrin Akeredolu’s demise and pray to God to grant him eternal rest while hoping for his immediate family, the government and people of Ondo State that he left behind finds comfort in the life full of accomplishments that he lived.”
On his part, the President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) described late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as one of the most influential and courageous Presidents ever to lead the NBA.
A tribute personally signed by the NBA boss said, “Aketi, as he was popularly called, was in our lexicon a true Bar man who firmly believed in the ability of the legal profession to make a difference in our society.
“It was this belief that led him into politics resulting in being elected twice as the Governor of Ondo State”, the NBA president said and added that the late governor will mostly be remembered for his forthrightness and down-to-earth perspectives, especially on matters of national importance.
He said Akeredolu will be positively remembered for his several contributions to the growth and development of Ondo State and the entire region.
In his words, “As Governor, Aketi was at the forefront of the establishment of the regional security network, Amotekun, to address security concerns in the western region.
“So far, the network has been effective in stemming the tide of terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, banditry, etc., within the region and currently stands as a model for other regions to emulate.
“For his contributions to the progress of Nigeria, he was recognized by the Federal Government and conferred with the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in October 2022.
“There is no denying that the learned Senior Advocate left indelible footprints in the sands of time”, Maikyau said as he commiserated with the entire Akeredolu clan, particularly his wife, Betty, and children, on the painful loss.
He also l extended his condolences to the Ondo State Executive Committee and the entire people of Ondo State adding that Akeredolu’s death was a collective loss.
According to Maikyau, Akeredolu was called to the Bar in 1978 and had served the NBA in several capacities.
He variously served as Secretary and Vice Chair of Ibadan Branch and went on to become the 24th President of the Association from 2008 to 2010
The late learned Senior Advocate also served the nation in various other capacities at different times, one of which was as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice from 1997 to 1999 and later as two-term Governor from 2017 till his demise.
Also, Oluwo Of Iwo, Oba Abdolrosheed Adewale Akanbi on Wednesday described the demise of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State as a colossal loss, not only to his immediate family but also to the good people of his state and Yoruba race by extension.
The monarch in a statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo by his Spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, said, “I Commiserate with his wife, immediate family and the good people of Ondo State. Yoruba race has lost a rare gem. He will be missed. ‘
“The role he played in securing Yorubaland cannot be forgotten. He was a nationalist . You are a champion. History will continue to be kind to you. May your souls continue to rest in peace, ” he concluded.
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