President Bola Tinubu has described the late governor of Ondo State, Alakurin Rotimi Akeredolu as his brother.
The late Ondo governor who has been battling leukaemia, died on Wednesday, December 27, at the age of 67.
Tinubu’s condolence message was contained in a statement signed by him.
He described Akereolu as his brother and soulmate, who moved the 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.
He wrote: “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, and 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 the 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 southwest.
“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 for 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 schools he built and the healthcare facilities that he provided.
“During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the state and killed defenseless 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.
“My personal journey with Rotimi started as 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.
“He showed uncommon courage as a member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Osun States.
“A gallant lawyer and one of the finest in the legal profession. I beckoned on him to contest for the governorship position of Ondo State in 2012.”
