Southwest Governors Forum, will join hands with their Ondo state counterpart to organise a befitting burial for the late Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Gatekeepers News reports that the decision was communicated to Akeredolu’s family during a condolence visit by the governors of Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, and the deputy governor of Oyo, Bayo Lawal.
The six states of the southwest will establish a joint committee to collaborate with the Ondo state government and Akeredolu’s family for the funeral arrangements.
The governors spoke through the governor of Ogun state, Dapo Abiodun on Friday, December 29, when he led three other governors of the southwestern state on a condolence visit to the family of the late governor at their Jericho, Ibadan residence.
Other governors in the company of the Ogun governor include Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Oyo state deputy governor, Bayo Lawal who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.
They acknowledged Akeredolu’s impactful leadership and contributions to the region and the nation. The governors pledged to work together in organizing a farewell ceremony that befits the late governor’s legacy.
Governor Abiodun said: “We are all here, governors of the southwestern states of Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Lagos will soon be here, he had some flight issues.
“We are here to commiserate with the Akeredolu family and also the Ondo state government on the passing of our senior colleague and brother, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who the Lord has called to his side.
“Without a doubt, we are all still in a state of shock and disbelief. When we heard the news we were shocked and in dismay but we cannot question God. In all things, we are to thank God.
“We thank God that Governor Akeredolu lived a life of impact on every side. He did well, not just in Ondo state but in the Southwest, the whole South, and the entire country.
“He was a senior advocate of law and a highly intelligent governor. He played a prominent role in ensuring that the Presidency returned to the South and he stood firm his ground. He worked so hard. He is reliable and dependable and we all feel very hurt at his death.
“We as the governors of the Southwest have agreed that we will give him a befitting burial and we have people who will work with the family and government of Ondo state for a befitting funeral rites.
“Governor Akeredolu was the Chairman of the Southwestern Governor’s Forum, he was the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, a position that he held, he led very courageously, very fearlessly. He was a learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a successful second term governor of Ondo state.”
He added: “All of us are here on behalf of our families, the entire people of our various states of the Southwest, to commiserate with the family and people and government of Ondo state.
“Our prayer is that the Almighty God will forgive all his sins and grant the repose of his soul. We also pray that he grants the wife, his children, his family members, the people and the government of Ondo state the heart to bear this very sad and shocking and painful exit.
“This is a man who was an advocate for the Southern presidency. We recall vividly the reinvigorated Southern Governors Forum meeting in Delta about two and half years ago and he championed that course that the Presidency must come to the South and he stayed with it, among several courses that he championed and fought successfully.
“Governor Akeredolu will be sorely missed by all of us. The void he left behind will be very difficult to fill by everyone.
“Collectively, we will be partly, majorly responsible for the funeral rites in according to him a farewell that he deserves. We have expressed that to the family, we will be setting up a joint committee of the Southwestern states to work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo state to ensure that we give him a deserving farewell.”
The governors conducted a closed-door meeting at the Oyo State Government Secretariat before proceeding to Akeredolu’s residence for the condolence visit. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, due to the governor’s absence on holiday.
Makinde is currently out of the country on holiday.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was said to have missed the trip with the other governors due to flight delay.
As a mark of respect and mourning, flags at the Oyo state Secretariat flew at half-mast following Governor Makinde’s directive for a three-day mourning period in honor of the late former Ondo governor.
