Akeredolu dies at 67, Tinubu others mourns

President Bola Tinubu has described the late Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, as a man of courage, ideas and action.

Mr Akeredolu, 67, passed away in a German Hospital on Wednesday after a prolonged battle with leukaemia and prostate cancer.

The state government has released an official statement announcing his death.

In a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, President Tinubu said he could not fairly capture in words the deceased Governor’s towering figure and his human essence.

Mr Tinubu recalled his personal journey with Governor Akeredolu which he said started when they were 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,” the President said.

The president said Mr Akeredolu’s death is a blow to the governing APC and the progressive family as they are diminished by it.

“I hope that his successor Aiyedatiwa will hold steadfast to the vision of governance left by this towering political leader,” he said.

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.