Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his sympathies on the passing of his counterpart in Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, calling it a great loss for the Yoruba people.
Oyebanji expressed his deep sadness over the death of Ondo State governor, who was also the former NBA President.
While expressing solidarity for the Ondo State administration and people, he called Akeredolu a “legal giant and scholar,” an administrator of the highest caliber, and a brave politician who spoke truth to power to the end of his life.
He said the late governor made a great difference in the lives of his people and the nation through a combination of purposeful leadership and commitment to excellent service delivery.
He regretted that Akeredolu’s death had robbed the country of a committed statesman who was interested in and was irrevocably committed to the development of his state and the country.
“This is indeed a sad day. I have lost a senior brother, a friend of our dear state, a dogged fighter and a visionary leader” Governor Oyebanji said.
Oyebanji further described Akeredolu as a man of excellence, class, candour who was imbued with uncommon brilliance which he brought to bear in the day-to-day administration of Ondo State and has been widely acknowledged as a major agent of transformation of in state.
He noted that Akeredolu’s death was also a painful loss to the South-West Governors’ Forum and the Southern Governors’ Forum both of which the deceased chaired and used as platforms to enrich governance and standard of living of citizens.
According to him, Akeredolu advocated for the entrenchment of democracy and good governance to the best of his ability, using the platforms of politics and legal profession.
Oyebanji praised Akeredolu for his significant contributions as a lawyer, attorney-general, NBA president, governor, and chancellor of various Nigerian institutions.
He prayed God to grant the wife of the deceased, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the children, friends and associates, the Owo community and the entire citizens of Ondo State the fortitude to bear the loss.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Ekiti State, I extend our condolences to Arakunrin Akeredolu’s immediate family, the Owo community and the good people of Ondo State.
