It came as a rude tremor! The news of the passing away of my very good brother and friend, His Excellency, Gov. Rotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (Aketi) has taken a very painful twist on me. I have poured myself severally into a heavy reflection since the news got thrown on so many reliable news outlets today. In the tapestry of time, seeing how friendships are woven and destinies intersect, Aketi emerged as one of the most incredible figures who we could say left an indelible mark on the canvas of time. Today, many people are extremely strutting in the shadows of grief, having lost a cherished soul, the illustrious Governor of Ondo State, Akeredolu Aketi.
As a matter of history, Gov. Akeredolu and I first hooked up and our paths crossed at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1976. Aketi was my senior but he nevertheless showed high level of maturity. He literally transcended the typical hierarchies tied with his level, instead, he embraced the bondless tradition of possible brotherhood that Ife is known for and which, to a very large extent, has succeeded in carving out brothers out of total strangers. The camaraderie we shared on campus then was massively fraternal and one can reasonably say, it has laid the foundation for a lasting bond that has weather the storms of time.
University of Ife, with its rich heritage of nurturing leaders, shaped Akeredolu into a vibrant student leader during our ideological years. In fact, Àkétì was one of the most vigorous students union leaders. The echoes of his activism and passion for service reverberated through the corridors of power and everywhere on campus and when I knew he was vying for the highest seat of power in Ondo state, I was not caught in the thread of surprise at all. Why? Because Ife has painstakingly drilled us and fully prepared all of us for leadership. And very many of us who were engaged in the “ALI-MUST-GO” struggle are now serving at different capacities in the public spaces. But for Aketi, his political trajectory was not a wonder to me at all.
However, In the warmth of August 2022, I had the privilege of visiting my brother and friend, Gov. Akérédolú to check up on him. Despite the frailty that gripped him at the time, however, immediately he set his eyes on us, his eyes suddenly lit up with a familiar vigor. I was also with one of our students. His interest in our endeavors, particularly, at Abólárìn College in Òkè-ìlá Orangun, reflected in his repeated affirmations that day and I can say, his words that day reaffirmed to me his honest intention and genuine commitment to the betterment of our society. It was on that day he whispered an unfulfilled wish into my ears. One of his dying wishes was to visit our tuition-free school, The Abólárìn College in OKE-ILA ORANGUN. He looked at the student beside me very intently that day and printed out from his own heart some valuable words of encouragement to him. His eagerness and encouragement, even in the face of adversity, left an indomitable impression upon the student who accompanied me to Akure, Ondo state that day.
Rewinding the clock to our days at Ife again a bit, Ife was (is) a training ground for us. It was a stadium of adventures. In the armpit of Ife, we found ourselves in the vibrant tapestry of different ideological fervor. Akeredolu, true to his spirit, was a member of the Palm-wine Drinkers Club – This club was a beacon of merriment and reason on campus back then. And of course, he was not just a vibrant member of the club but carried also the hefty title of “Songito,” with the key duty of infusing life, soul into the gatherings, especially, with his infectious enthusiasm.
Today, as we bid farewell to a statesman, a friend, and a brother, our hearts ache with the weight of this huge loss. To his wife and family, friends across the length and breadth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all over the wide world and the good people of Ondo State, I extend my heartfelt condolences. May the legacy of Aketi endure and may God grant solace to all who mourn. Rest in peace, dear friend, your songito spirit will forever echo in the corridors of our memories. Rest well!
Oba Abolarin is the Orangun of Oke Ila
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