Members of the Owo Anglican Diocese on Friday paid a condolence visit to the residence of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The Bishop of the Church, Rt Rev. Stephen Fagbemi who led the members noted that Akeredolu was not just a governor but a visionary leader who was passionate about the things of God.
Fagbemi who spoke on behalf of the leadership of the Church noted that Akeredolu has left a vacuum which will be difficult to fill in the Diocese, the state and the nation at large while praying tobGod to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Responding on behalf of the family, the deceased younger brother, Prof. Akeredolu, thanked the Bishop and entire Diocese of Owo Anglican Communion for their love and support during the trying period and asked that the Church continue to remember the family in prayer.
The Church had earlier issued a statement describing the death of the late Akeredolu as a great loss to the Church of Nigeria, the Anglican Communion, especially the Diocese of Owo, Ondo State and Nigeria as a whole.
The church expressed its condolences in the statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Owo Anglican Diocese, Basorun Banjo Abitogun, on behalf of the Bishop of Owo Anglican Diocese, Dr Stephen Ayodeji Fagbemi, adding that Akeredolu was a committed member of the Diocese.
The statement said Akeredolu, until his death was the Chancellor of the Diocese, describing him as a devoted Christian and a commited Anglican who was never ashamed to declare his faith in the crucified Lord, as a faithful soldier in obedience to his baptismal vow.
Fagbemi said “Chancellor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu impacted the diocese so much and that members of the Diocese will remember him for his legacy of compassion, justice, and progress, which will linger in their hearts for generations to come.
” The diocese will always celebrate him and thank God for who he was and all that he stood for in the diocese”
The Bishop then urged all, to keep praying for the entire Akeredolu family, the Diocese of Owo (Anglican Communion), and Ondo State in general.
Bishop Fagbemi also prayed God to grant the Diocesan Chancellor’s soul eternal rest, saying “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them.”(Rev. 14:13).
