Owo will be turned to Mecca today as the ancient town in Ondo State will today play host to eminent Nigerians including President Bola Tinubu and state Governors for the final funeral rites of former Governor, late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The body of the former Nigeria Bar (NBA) president will be interred after the funeral service at St. Andrew Anglican Church, Imola, Owo.
On Sunday, a thanksgiving service would be held in the same church. Akeredolu passed on in December, 2023
Funeral rites for him started from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he lived and practised law before he joined politics.
His body moved to Akure on Wednesday before being transported to Owo, his home town.
Also, Akeredolu’s kinsmen performed the traditional Ajabue dance ahead of his interment.
At the ceremony were former Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Raimi Aminu; Members of House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi and Morenike Witherspoon; former Head of Service, Mr Dare Aragbaiye; former Special Assistant on Natural Resources, Fatai Olushina; former Commissioner for Hygiene and Water Resources, Fatai Olotu; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Vice President and National President, Nigeria Civil Service Union, Comrade Sunday Adeleye; and some permanent secretaries.
AKEREDOLU WAS COURAGEOUS, says Odu
In her tribute, former Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, described Akeredolu as a “man of courage, a man with great family values (even though it is his adorable Betty, his aproco partner that really has monopoly of that part of his life), and as a man of truth.”
She added: “Many of you called him courageous because you saw him speak truth to power from afar, even at the expense of mega threats to his life. But I saw him speak truth to power in the same room, in the face of the gun.”
WE ARE CONSOLED BY TESTIMONIES, says family
At the service of songs yesterday, the family said testimonies and tributes to Akeredolu were consoling, adding that they reaffirmed that the late patriarch lived a life of significance and made a positive impact on society.
Akeredoku’s younger brother, Professor Wole Akeredolu, spoke on behalf of the family at the service held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Church.
Prof. Akeredolu thanked everyone for their support and love for the former governor.
Dignitaries from across the country attended the service.
The Bishop of Owo Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Stephen Fagbemi, described Akeredolu as a visionary leader who was passionate about the things of God.
The Bishop emphasised that Akeredolu had left a void that will be difficult to fill in the diocese, the state, and the country.
He prayed to God to grant the family the strength to bear the loss.
In a brief exhortation, Most Reverend Simeon Borokini, the Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese and Archbishop of Ondo Ecclesiastical Province, said Akeredolu served the people of the state well.
At the service were Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami; Deputy Governor of Kogi State Salifu Joel Oyibo; Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Hellen Ogunwumiju who represented the CJN, Justice Kayode Ariwoola; other justices of the Court of Appeal, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Ade Adetimehin; Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly Olamide Oladiji; Chief Judge Justice Olusegun Odusola; Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire; and a former PDP governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).
Also present were the wife of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Bisi Fayemi, former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye; members of the House of Representatives, APC governorship aspirant Wale Akinterinwa, the leadership and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
