The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has expressed pain and anguish over the eventual death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State after a protracted illness.
This is contained in a statement signed by PANDEF’s national chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, and made available to journalists on Thursday.
The statement reads:
“The National Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Dr E.K. Clark, OFR, CON, the Board of Trustees, the National Executive Committee, the entire members of the organization, and indeed the people of the South-South geopolitical zone, express total pain over the death of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, of Ondo State, which sad event occurred on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at the age of 67.
“PANDEF acknowledges the late Governor Akeredolu’s standing as a great Nigerian lawyer, jurist, public servant, and politician, amongst other things.
“PANDEF and, indeed, the entire Nigerian people will eternally remember his forthright views on issues of constitutional law and national importance, particularly while he held sway as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“His critical thoughts on daily affairs and constitutionalism contributed in major ways to consolidating our democracy and peaceful coexistence as a people.
“It is also an ineffaceable fact that under his watch as governor, Ondo State became a centre point of economic and social development.
“As Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu played critical roles that culminated in the birth of ‘Amotekun’, a sub-regional security outfit, being the first of its type in our country.
“This singular initiative substantially brought down the spate of kidnappings, killings, and brigandage in the South West zone.
“‘Aketi,’ as he was fondly called, was a dogged fighter and was an outstanding, strong, and steadfast proponent of the quest for the rotation of the presidency to the southern part of the country in 2023.
“It was his principled stance, along with that of some Northern Governors and groups such as the Southern and Middle Belt Forum including PANDEF that ultimately led to the emergence of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is most painful that Rotimi Akerefolu passed on at this time. We convey our condolences to his wife, the children, the government, and the people of Ondo State at large, and indeed the Nigerian federation, over the demise of this colossus, a national public personality of a higher class, whose name will be indelible in the annals of our history and future existence.
“May his soul rest in peace!!”
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