By Louis Achi
Peering into the troubling future of humanity, the former French president, Giscard D’Estaing once counseled statesmen and world leaders that, “There can be no response to history without effort.” D’Estaing’s sage counsel was clearly inspired by the environment of human crises that defined his era. He was born during the First World War and fought in the second global conflagration.
The dilemma of conceptualising an appropriate response to the challenges that dog Nigeria’s journey, with the concomitant imperative efforts capture the essence of the life and times of H.E. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN, the late governor of Ondo State who died at a hospital in Germany, on December 27.
Amid the contrived fog that needlessly surrounded the late governor’s demise, his family broke their silence on the devastating passage, clarifying the governor died in his sleep at a hospital in Germany, on early December 27; stating he succumbed to death from complications arising from prostate cancer.
A statement issued by the late governor’s son, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Jnr, read: “With deepest regret and profound acceptance of the will of the Almighty, we announce the passing of our beloved, courageous, and compassionate father and grandfather, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.
“He peacefully departed in his sleep at a Hospital in Germany, where he was undergoing treatment for protracted prostate cancer.
“While we are deeply saddened and devastated by his departure, we find solace in the understanding that as he transitions to eternity, he will be guided by the benevolent hands of the angels of light, with whom he resided during his remarkable and fruitful journey on Earth.
“During this challenging time, we sincerely appreciate everyone who has stood by us and extended their support since the news broke. We humbly request your prayers and support, while also asking for privacy as we navigate through this trying period.”
A distraught President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, described Akeredolu as a confidant and political soulmate.
In His Excellency’s words, “It is a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul. It is a more difficult job in our African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person. Here I am with the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate and governor of Ondo State.
“I cannot fairly capture in words Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence. Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a senior advocate, attorney general of his beloved state, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.
“In a challenging moment of our statehood when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture so we can have a more secure nation. His unrelenting advocacy led to the birth of the local police in the South West.
“Rotimi was a man of ideas and action. While he was with us, he taught us the power of action and service. In Ondo State where he had the honour to serve as the Governor in the last 6 years, he served his people with absolute loyalty, dedication and forthrightness.
An equally smitten chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, His Excellency, Abdulrazak Abdulrahman, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, expressed the Forum’s grief at the demise of the notable legal luminary and its fallen outspoken member and conveyed NGF’s commiserations to his grieving family and state.
His words: “The deceased brought to the Forum his vast intelligence and experience as a lawyer, spanning several decades. His humane disposition and deep love for his people endeared him to all and sundry.
“His humility and non-partisan stance for national interest has endeared him to many. His valuable contributions and interventions as a member of the Forum, at various instances, has moved the Forum to higher heights. He was a statesman and an embodiment of intellectual acuity.
“We are indeed saddened by this irreplaceable loss and pray for the family and the entire people of Ondo State in this difficult time. May God in his infinite mercy ease your pain.
“We hope to find solace in our memory of his achievements and that his good deeds will live on. Aketi lived a good life, fought a good fight, and will forever be remembered as a hero.”
At a period the world, Africa and Nigeria stand on the brink of substantial disruptions – and of considerable opportunity – as new political governance models challenge traditional playbooks, Akeredolu stood tall and spoke with an unforgettable authority and verve forged in furnace of stern professional training and conviction.
He brought vision, knowledge and courage to sustain the imperative cutting-edge leadership which had ensured both stability and progression at the subnational and national levels.
It’s a given that powerful visions attract ideas, people and other relevant resources. They create the momentum and will to actualize changes. They inspire individuals, complementary organizations and institutions to commit, to persist and to give their best.
Keying into this enduring philosophy, unassuming Akeredolu had also deployed impeccable professionalism, discipline and persistence to change the traditional narrative of governance in Ondo State and also undeniably impacted the national space.
No less a child of providence who wielded influence and authority with alluring humility and exemplary focus, Aketi as he was fondly called, demonstrated with his life’s trajectory that law, politics, faith, philanthropy and education fundamentally address transformation of society and the human condition for good.
He unabashedly maintained this unique footing till death. An unwavering sense of duty, rigorous training and professionalism, demonstrable integrity and almost a child-like faith in his beloved God formed the navigational compass of his life story.
A feisty a crusader for constitutionalism, truth, justice who contributed in no small measure to the entrenchment and sustenance of democracy and the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria, Akeredolu impatiently rejected staying tamely at the end of received policy prescriptions.
He coveted knowledge-driven innovations, proactive engagement with stake-holders, policy makers and sure-footed action. These progressive dimensions were boldly mirrored in his quality leadership of the several organizations he presided over. Some of these included: Attorney General of Ondo State, Chairman of the Legal Aid Council, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Governor of Ondo State, Chairman of Southwest Governors’ Forum, Managing Partner at the law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria.
H.E. President Bola Tinubu aptly captured some of Akeredolu’s developmental impact at his subnational and national turfs when he observed in his eulogy: “His footprints dot the entire landscape in the hundreds of kilometres of roads he built, the many schools he built and healthcare facilities that he provided.
“During the dark hours when marauding agents of darkness visited the state and killed defenceless citizens where 40 worshippers of the Catholic Church of Owo were killed on June 5, 2022, Rotimi’s leadership qualities as a true statesman and compassionate leader radiated brightly to the world.
“He was a mourner-in-chief who guided his people through an agonising period. Today, I mourn a fighter and fearless defender of truth and the masses.”
The NGF Chairman, H.E. Abdurahman AbdulRasak, echoed the president’s position, at a condolence visit to the late governor’s family at his Ibadan private residence on Wednesday, December 27. The Vice Chairman of the Forum and Oyo State Governor, H.E. Seyi Makinde, accompanied the Chairman to condole the deceased’s family.
Hear H.E. AbdulRasak: “We will just continue to pray that his soul rest in peace. 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 has risen to the height of his chosen career. He was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He has risen to the height of politics. He was the governor of a state. He impacted greatly on humanity, developmental politics. All we can say for now is may his soul rest in peace.
“This is somebody who was a courageous individual. He doesn’t mince words; he says it as it is, he speaks truth to power. It is a big loss for me personally, and for the Southwest. We will still continue to internalize.”
Akeredolu was born on 21 July 1956 in Owo, to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State. He started his primary education at Government Primary School in Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College in Akure, Loyola College in Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively.
His middle name Odunayo means “Year of happiness” in Yoruba. He went on to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Law and he graduated in 1977. He was referred to the Nigerian Law School in 1978. Akeredolu was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997 to 1999. In 1998, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006). In a lecture in December 2009, Akeredolu said no amount of electoral reform or judicial system could give Nigeria free and fair elections if Nigerians themselves refused to take practical steps to ensure that their votes count.
He served as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association between 2008 and 2009. He was the Vice Chairman of the Ibadan branch of the NBA in 1991 and Chairman from 1992 to 1994.
In 2012, the Nigerian Bar Association named its new secretariat in Abuja after Akeredolu, its president citing the need for “generational identification and recognition of those who had contributed immensely to the development of the association. The sheer courage for him to go through the rigour is a testimony to his selfless service.”
On February 4, 2022, Akeredolu was named Grand Patron of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency by its chairman, retired Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa
Akeredolu was married to former Ondo State First Lady Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, a union blessed with children.
Late H.E. Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, CON, SAN, was truly the statesman who dared. He indeed bought unstintingly into the French president, Giscard D’Estaing’s timeless counsel to statesmen and world leaders that: “There can be no response to history without effort.” He walked his talk, till his last breath.
ENDS
