President Bola Tinubu has stated that late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu “fearless soldier” and “unwavering advocate” for the people said the former governor was an “indomitable legacy of national service.”
He said this when he paid his last respect to the former Ondo state governor Akeredolu who was buried at the newly consecrated burial site in Owo on Friday, February 23 which was held at the St. Andrews Cathedral, Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government.
The President who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima extolled the virtues of the late governor whom he said never shied away from telling the truth at all times.
“We are gathered here today to bid farewell to a remarkable soul.
“We are also reminded that in this transient journey through life, we are but whispers in the wind. The parts of us that endure after we get to the end of our journey are the choices we make, and this moment is the ultimate confirmation of the noble paths trodden by our dear brother.
“He was a vastly intelligent man whose passion has created quite a wide vacuum beyond this community. He recognized that the most pragmatic path to serving humanity is to present ourselves willingly to be chosen by the people.
Contributing, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa said he would not forget who made him ‘Governor even in death.’
He said, “You are all here to pay your friend, our leader, and our governor last respect because of the relationship that he had with all of you at one time or another.
“You are all here because he stood for something: good governance and the rule of law. He means a lot to different people, and that is why he has been described in different words. He was a courageous leader, a fighter, and a warrior. How can we forget him so soon? It is not possible because he lives on.
“For me, I cannot forget him so soon because we share ether. How can I forget those political, physical, and dusty roads that we traveled together since 2012?
“As his political associate, friend, and one-time Director-General of his campaign, Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal constituency, as Deputy Governor nominee, Deputy Governor elected, and Acting Governor traveled, and now he has made me a governor even in death. How can I forget?”
In his homily, Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Dr. Henry Ndukuba, told President Tinubu to urgently resolve the hardship being faced by Nigerians.
Represented by the Dean of the church of Nigeria, Reverend Blessing Enyindah, Ndukuba said, “May I on behalf of Nigerians pray and call on the President, Senator Bola Tinubu to do something to reduce the hardship faced by Nigerians.
“We have the hope he would do it because he promised us renewed hope and according to him, it is his turn, so the turn and opportunity have been given to him now. We are waiting and expecting the fulfillment of renewed hope.
“We plead with him to do it fast because time, that is four or eight years as the case may be, is brief and the time is running.
“We have the hope the President will do something. He promised us Renewed Hope. We are waiting with hope. We pray he does it fast.”
The Owo Diocese of the Anglican Church immortalized the former Ondo Governor by naming the yet-to-be-completed N300m Medical and Diagnostic Center after him.
Source: The Nation
