Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has described the demise of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State as a huge loss to Yoruba race and Nigeria at large.
Ooni, who stated this in a statement he personally issued on Wednesday, said that the late governor was an epitome of honesty and courage, who lived a life worthy of emulation.
According to him, the Oduduwa race has lost a pillar of honesty and courage; a man who served humanity with his expertise as a legal luminary, experienced politician and true descendant of Oduduwa.
“When we were challenged at the grassroots by invaders who masqueraded as herdsmen, Aketi worked with stakeholders across South-West and the national level to deliver our mandate of security and prosperity.
“This birthed Amotekun and other initiatives through which our people are safer and more confident to embark on their lawful businesses daily.
“He was an honest, bold and courageous leader whose legacy will never be forgotten. If Akeredolu tells you anything, that is the way it is.
“His death is a personal loss to me because we were very close, right from our days as students of Loyola College, Ibadan till date.
“In fact, he did a legacy project for the school through which his name will forever be remembered,” he said.
The royal father expressed condolences to the late governor’s wife, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, the family, President Bola Tinubu, the people of the state and Nigerians in general.
Also, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, has described the death of Akeredolu as a blow to democracy and political activism.
Balogun said this in a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media, Mr Oladele Ogunsola, on Wednesday in Ibadan.
He described the sudden exit of the Ondo State helmsman as a national loss.
“An indefatigable politician and legal icon, the governor, popularly called Aketi was an activist, who used both his law profession and politics to fight for the downtrodden.
“He left his feet on the sands of time both as a lawyer, attaining the highest professional honour available in the field as well as the headship of its association – Nigerian Bar Association.
“In politics, he proved himself an enigma, winning gubernatorial elections on two different occasions and but for his untimely death, he would have succeeded in governing his Ondo State for two terms of eight years, that’s not a mean achievement,” he added.
The Ibadan traditional ruler equally commiserated with President Bola Tinubu, the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the good people of Ondo State.
He urged them to take solace in the good memories left behind by the departed politician.
He also urged the members of the late governors’ family, both immediate and extended to take heart and thank God for a good life spent by their late icon.
