Akeredolu’s Burial: Southwest Governors to Collaborate with Family

Governors of the Southwest states of Nigeria, under the aegis of Southwest Governors Forum, have disclosed their intention to collaborate with Ondo State to give the late governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a befitting burial.

The Forum which has Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun and Ondo States as members said it had communicated same to the family of the late governor, noting that a joint committee would be set up to achieve the cause.

The governors spoke through the Governor of Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, on Friday, when he led three other Southwest governors, Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde, on a condolence visit to the family of the late Akeredolu at his Jericho, Ibadan residence.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was said to have missed the trip with the other governors due to flight delay, while Governor Makinde is currently out of the country on holiday.

The governors arrived the Akeredolu’s residence at about 1:15PM in a convoy of over 20 cars.

Journalists were barred from entering the room where the governors were received. A big write up banning the use of videos, cameras and/or recording was pasted on the large door leading into the room.

However, unlike other times, journalists were allowed to sit inside the compound where a canopy and drinks had been provided for interested visitors.

While the governors were there, a former Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore, arrived the residence wearing a sombre look.

Addressing journalists in company of the three other governors shortly after the visit to the family, Governor Abiodun said the late governor Akeredolu would be sorely missed by all of his governor-colleagues, noting that the void he left behind would be very difficult to fill by anyone.

He stated that all the governors were still in a state of shock and disbelief on the demise of Akeredolu, whom he described as a senior colleague and brother, saying God could not be questioned but should be thanked in all things.

He noted: “We thank God that Governor Akeredolu lived a life of impact on every side. He did well, not just in Ondo State but in the Southwest, the whole South and the entire country. He was a Senior advocate of law and a highly intelligent governor. He played a prominent role in ensuring that the Presidency returns to the South and he stood firm his ground. 

“He worked so hard. He is reliable and dependable and we all feel very hurt at his death. We, as the governors of the Southwest, have agreed that we will give him a befitting burial and we have people who will work with the family and government of Ondo State for a befitting funeral rites,” Abiodun revealed.

Governor Abiodun disclosed that they were all there on behalf of their families and the people of their various states of the Southwest to commisserate with the Akeredolu family, and the people and government of Ondo State.

He prayed that the Almighty God would forgive Akeredolu’s sins and grant the repose of his soul, and that God would grant the wife, the children, his family members, the people and government of Ondo State the heart to bear the very sad, shocking and painful exit.

Abiodun said: “This is a man who was an advocate for the Southern presidency. We recall vividly the reinvigorated Southern Governors’ Forum meeting in Delta about two and half years ago and he championed that cause that the Presidency must come to the South and he stayed with it, amongst several causes that he championed and fought successfully. 

“Collectively, we will be partly, majorly responsible for the funeral rites in according him a farewell that he deserves. We have expressed that to the family. We will be setting up a joint committe of the Southwestern states, work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo State to ensure that we give him a deserving farewell,” the governor disclosed.

The late governor Akeredolu, a second term governor of Ondo State, who died on Wednesday, December 27th, 2023, was until his death, the Chairman of both the Southwestern Governors’ Forum and the Southern Governors’ Forum.

Confidence Okwuchi