Governors AbdulRazaq, Makinde visit late Akeredolu’s family, pay tribute to his legacy

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his Oyo State counterpart Seyi Makinde visited the late Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s home in Ibadan on Wednesday, December 27, to express their sympathy.

They arrived the Jericho residence of the deceased governor around 5:30 pm.

They headed directly to the private residence where the widow, Betty and some close relatives were grieving.

According to The Nation, some children of the late governor were unhappy with the presence of journalists who came to cover the visit and asked them to leave the residence, saying that it was not a public place but a family home.

Some of their colleagues intervened quickly and pacified the angry reporters who had been waiting at the entrance gates of the residence to observe the situation.

The two governors, who seemed to notice what had happened, came out to the street after the visit where the journalists were eager to interview them.

The Kwara State Governor praised the late governor for his dedication and contribution to humanity.

Abdulrahman, who called the death a huge loss for the country, said that the late Aketi achieved the highest level of his profession and politics and made a great impact on humanity in developmental politics.

He said: “This is a solemn affairs, we are here today with the governor of Oyo state and myself on behalf of all the members of the Nigeria Governors Forum to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Arakunrin Akeredolu. It is a sad affair.

“We met the wife. We can just continue to pray that his soul will continue to rest in peace and may God give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

“It is indeed a great loss for the nation. This is a man that rose to the height of his chosen career, the bar. He rose to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

He impacted greatly on humanity in developmental politics. All we can say for now is that may his soul rest in peace.

“And we can also add that of the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dr Ghali Naabba, may Allah forgive him his sins and give him aljannah firdus.”

The Oyo State governor also spoke briefly and said he had lost a friend, a brother and a comrade.

He described Akeredolu as a courageous person who did not mince words but spoke truth to power. He said the death was a big loss for him personally and for the Southwest as a whole.

He said: “Well, I can say that I have lost a personal friend, a brother, somebody that we have been in the trenches together. When we were going to set up Amotekun, he was pivotal to it. And when we took the decision for Southern presidency, himself and the former governor of Anambra, they chaired the meeting at the Delta Government House.

“So, this is somebody that is a courageous individuals, he doesn’t mince words. He says it as it is, he would speak truth to power. It is a big loss for me personally and for the Southwest.

“We will still continue to internalise it but we give God the glory that he lived a fulfilled life. At the end of the day, it is really not how long but how well and he lived well. He impacted humanity and the Southwest of Nigeria.”