The body of the former governor of Ondo state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu has been finally committed to the mother earth days after performing his burial rites in Ibadan, Akure and Owo his hometown.
The corpse was interred in Owo, his hometown on a piece of land close to Akeredolu’s Maranatha residence at the Government Reserved Area, Owo.
Prior the interment, a funeral service was held at St Andrews Anglican Church Imola Owo where the late Akeredolu served as the Chancellor till death.
The service was well attended by dignitaries across the country with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima; the Senate Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele;Ondo state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdulraman Abdulraman and Governors from other states in the country; Past Governor of Ondo state, Olusegun Mimiko; APC Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; wives of some past and present governors in the country were around to share the moment with the late Governor’s wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, traditional rulers, religious leaders, political class, legal luminaries and highly revered personalities within and outside the country.
In his sermon titled:”The Brevity of Life”, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba represented by the Anglican Bishop of Ikwerre, Archbishop of Niger Delta Province, Rev. Blessing Enyindah, spoke on the shortness of life and also called on the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to ease the hardship of Nigerians in line with his renewed hope mantra. He also noted that Late Akeredolu will be well remembered for his indelible impacts in the state and outside.
President Tinubu said that Nigeria has lost a rear gem whose legacy will stand the test of time.
The president described Akeredolu as a highly intelligent individual as Ondo State bids him a final farewell.
Ondo state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa in his speech described his former boss, Akeredolu as one who used the instrument of governance judiciously in the state to facilitate many projects in all the sectors.
Reception of guests at the Mydas hall, Owo will be held following the private interment by family members.
As a mark of honour, Bishop Stephen Fagbemi, the Bishop of Owo dioceses in his remarks also announced plans to immortalize the late governor, who served as Chancellor of the Anglican Communion in Owo, by dedicating the Anglican Medical and Diagnostic Center, in his honor.
Born July 21,1956, Rotimi Akeredolu, CON, SAN served as the governor of Ondo state from February 24, 2017 to December 26th, 2023 when he gave up the ghost after a long battle with Prostate at age 67.
