Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has promised that the state will immortalise the departed former governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Aiyedatiwa spoke after paying condolence visit to the private residence of his predecessor in Jericho, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
He was hosted by Betty Akeredolu, widow of the former governor.
Aiyedatiwa, who described Akeredolu as a courageous and fearless leader, also reaffirmed the promise he made at his inauguration on Wednesday, that he would sustain Akeredolu’s legacies.
Aiyedatiwa said: “We are here as a government under my leadership as the governor of Ondo State on behalf of the people to pay a condolence visit to the immediate and extended family of our former governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, who passed on yesterday (Wednesday). We are here in his private home in Ibadan.
“We have to do this because he has always been our leader, a courageous one for that matter; one who has governed Ondo State in the last six and half to seven years, with great courage and with many legacies he has left behind
“He is an exemplary leader, a courageous one, a leader that believed in fairness, equity and justice. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria who spoke on national issues so that adjustments and proper decisions can be made concerning any issue in Nigeria. So he’s known for that, as an activist.
“Today, he’s no more and we have to pay him that respect by coming to the family to condole with them and we have done that. We pray that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“And for those of us that he has left behind, to be able to emulate some of the values, the sterling qualities that he is known for so that we can keep on with the legacies that he has left behind.”
At the residence, where Akeredolu spent the last days on earth, after his return from Germany on September 7, prayers were offered for the soul of the departed and members of the family.
The departed governor’s brother, Pastor Kola Akeredolu, thanked the delegation for the thoughtful visit.
The governor was accompanied by some top government officials and aides, among who were commissioners, such as Bamidele Ademola-Olateju (Information and Orientation); Olayato Aribo (Agriculture); Chief of Staff Gbenga Ale and others.
Aiyedatiwa, who left Akure barely 24 hours after his inauguration, proceeded to Lagos from Ibadan, where he met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He told reporters in Lagos that he visited the president to brief him on the situation of things in the state. He said the president, who spoke to him on Wednesday, to commiserate with the residents of Ondo State, encouraged him to carry on with the responsibilities.
Yesterday, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde declared three days of mourning for Akeredolu. He directed that flags should fly at half mast.
