Newly sworn-in Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa says the state government will immortalise Late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu died on Wednesday after battling with a protracted illness which his son, Oluwarotimi Junior revealed to be prostrate cancer.
Speaking when he led some members of the state executive council and members of the state house of assembly to the Akeredolu’s residence in Jericho, Ibadan, Oyo state, Aiyedatiwa described his predecessor as a courageous and fearless leader.
While condoling with the family over the death, Aiyedatiwa promised to emulate Akeredolu’s values and also keep “on with the legacies that he has left behind”.
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.”
Responding on behalf of the family, the brother of the late governor, Pastor Kola Akeredolu, thanked the delegation for the thoughtful visit.
Prayers were offered for the grieving family with Aiyedatiwa leading others to sign the condolence register.
