By Ayodele Oni
President Bola Tinubu represented by the Minister for Finance & Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun, and Chairman, Nigerian Governors’ Forum, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, of Kwara state led dignitaries to receive the body of late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu at the lying in state ceremony in Akure, Ondo State capital on Wednesday.
At the lying in state were political, professional allies, family members as well as the deceased former political appointees.
A special Court Session had earlier been held at the state High Court complex where the Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola enumerated contributions of Akeredolu to the State Judiciary.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in a speech at the lying in state, stated that the deceased risked his life to ensure the people lived.
“I remember how this great man lying still here before us now took an uninsured risk in service of a greater goal for his people.
This was at the heat of the avoidable farmers – herders/kidnapping and other security challenges in our country. I am sure you remember his indomitable interventions when it was tough to speak loud.
“He, without fear, took an unusual sacrifice that many considered a suicide mission. He raised his voice high to the roof to speak truth to power. He condemned inequality, complacency, divisiveness and double standards.
“He asked for the supremacy of rule of law. He asked for fairness, love and true nationalism. He faced the troubling issues of the times with the candour of a statesman. He not only condemned indolence of thought, he proffered solutions that guaranteed peace. He not only talked, he walked his talk. He advocated for a new thinking, a new action and a new direction.
“He took these risks against bigger powers whose might is determinate and final. He took a great risk at the peak of his reelection attempt.
“I can as well remind you of yet another heroic deed of the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. How can we forget his clear posture and position on the very constitutional matter of true federalism?
“I remember till today, the bellow of his voice, as we ruminated in the quiet Chamber of his quarters, on the need and strategies for survival and self-preservation for the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
He said and I quote ‘How can we claim the audacity of leadership if we fail the litmus test of protecting the people when adversary, persecution, humiliation and death come? We will not be worth our salt if we betray our oaths of office and natural commission of leadership for which we are known.”
