A Special Court session was on Wednesday held at the Ondo State High Court in Akure, the state capital, in honour of the late Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, who died in Germany last December, after a protracted illness.
The special session which was presided by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, was attended by family, friends, political associates and top professional legal luminaries including Chief Akin Olujimi.
Justice Odusola described the late Akeredolu as a man of courage, who will be remembered for his contributions to the development of the country and his concern for the interest of his region and his people.
According to him, the tenure of Akeredolu will remain a good reference point in the annual state leadership, saying the late governor left fondest memories.
The Ondo CJ said, “Arakunrin was a courageous fighter, who faced the serious security challenges in the State with such ingenious courage that his approach has become a national model.
“He was amazingly down to earth and this great asset is also his major weakness in a society where sycophancy is the order of the day. Whatever he promised to do, he would fight to accomplish.
“He had a desire to build an ultra-modern facility for the High Court (and had started the journey), but could not to do so partly because of his ill-health but largely because the individual who stood as the eye of the Executives in the administration of the judiciary could not interpret that dream.
“Expectedly, our new Governor, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has reiterated his promise to bring Arakunrin’s dream to reality. It is a delight to note that Arakunrin never interfered with judicial activities even when it did not favour his desires. He would always tell us “Milord, deliver your judgment in your true conscience, if I am not satisfied, I will appeal.”
“That is the man we are all gathered here to bid farewell on his last journey. I am paying tribute to a man who understood the principles of separation of powers and lived it, not only in words, but in action.
“In my last encounter with him, at a time when his health was obviously failing, Arakunrin still reiterated his desire to construct a judiciary complex that will be the envy of other states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“He also spoke about Judges’ welfare and I wondered how a man in such a condition could still love the judiciary so much as to remember the little promises he made.
“I therefore pay homage to an outstanding legal icon and a political colossus. A man who was an exemplar of indefatigable courage, principled resistance with honesty and self-respect.
“In the annals of Ondo State leadership, Arakunrin’s tenure will continue to be a good reference point. He left us with the fondest memories among which is his famous song of praise: “Awa ta jewo re ni gbangba…….”
The state Governor, Lucky Ayedatiwa, said the late governor will always be remembered for his good deeds, his clear mind on issues and his partisanship on all matters he believed in.
“His support for the Multidoor Court System, improved delivery of the Alternate Dispute Resolution system and welfare for judges and judicial officers, are well documented.
“Shall we forget his drive for necessary and expeditious law-making? For records, he sponsored the Executive Bill for a law to establish the Ondo State Security Agency and Amotekun Corps, to assist in maintaining law and order in the state. His government also sponsored a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Ondo State Security Trust Fund.
“Others include but are not limited to a bill for a law to provide for the establishment of an independent office of the Auditor-General which provides for the audit of public Accounts. There was also the bill for a law to establish the Ondo State Agency against violence against women.
“Others include but are not limited to a bill for a law to establish the State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and Anti-Corruption Commission as well as a bill for a law to regulate rearing and grazing of livestock and to provide for the establishment of ranches.
“We will remember him for his industry and erudition, his disdain for half measures, and hypocrisy, backstabbing, sycophancy and mediocrity. We will miss his charm, wit, firmness and activism. Beyond all, we will miss his company, vitality and energy.”
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), Chief Olusola Oke, described Akeredolu as a voice for the voiceless, saying “Governor Akeredolu was a hero. He left behind a great name. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. His was a life well spent.
“As is often said, a life-well-lived is like a powerful work of art; beautifully created and remembered by all. In the words of Benjamin Disraeli, the legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.
“Governor Akeredolu was forthright, truthful, fearless and courageous. He was a fierce defender of the oppressed. He spoke truth to power not minding the consequence, took side with the poor, the underdog and the oppressed. He was the voice for voiceless”
He however, said “We take solace in the recognition that the vibrancy of a well-lived life never fades. The goal in life is not to live forever. Nobody will. The goal is to create something that will. Our departed friend, colleague and leader, Governor Akeredolu created many fond memories and legacies in his professional and political careers that will live forever.
“As Thomas Campbell puts it, to live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.
“Dear Oluwarotimi, this valedictory forbids mourning, not because we are not pained, but because your life was a remarkable page in the affairs of humankind. We shall continue to remember: our toiling in the legal profession while you were here; our quest for better humanity and your uncommon virtuous personality, as that would afford us the opportunity to sustain your good memories.
“This is more so as it has been anonymously said that “when someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure”.
“It may be time to say goodbye, but our memories will forever fit like a key in a lock. The hours and minutes tick by slowly, and it is finally time to say goodbye. Like ocean waves crashing against the shore, the memories remain long after this goodbye”
However, while speaking during the lying- in- state and the Commendation Service held at Akure Township Stadium, Ayedatiwa said the late governor’s life tells a riveting story of how sacrifice and heroism can help foster the course of history.
The governor recalled how late Akeredolu championed the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), also known as “Amotekun”, in the South West region to curb the insecurity in the western states of Nigeria.
He said “This was at the heat of the avoidable farmers – herders/kidnapping and other security challenges in our country. I am sure you remember his indomitable interventions when it was tough to speak loud.
“He, without fear took an unusual sacrifice that many considered a suicide mission. He raised his voice high to the roof to speak truth to power. He condemned inequality, complacency, divisiveness and double standards.
“He asked for the supremacy of rule of law. He asked for fairness, love and true nationalism. He faced the troubling issues of the times with the candour of a statesman.
“He not only condemned indolence of thought, he proffered solutions that guaranteed peace. He not only talked, he walked his talk. He advocated for a new thinking, a new action and a new direction.
“He took these risks against bigger powers whose might is determinate and final. He took a great risk at the peak of his reelection attempt”
“I can as well remind you of yet another heroic deed of the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. How can we forget his clear posture and position on the very constitutional matter of true federalism? I remember till today, the bellow of his voice, as we ruminate in the quiet chamber of his quarters, on the need and strategies for survival and self-preservation for the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
“He said and I quote “How can we claim the audacity of leadership if we fail the litmus test of protecting the people when adversary, persecution, humiliation and death come? We will not be worth our salt if we betray our oaths of office and natural commission of leadership for which we are known!”
” I believe this, together with a similar war cry by his colleague Governors of the SouthWestern States of Nigeria led to the establishment of the Southwest States Security Network code named Amotekun.
“This, in my view, is the type of leadership our nation needs today, from the family unit, even to the highest level in the land. We need men who will look neither left nor right but gaze straight ahead to sacrifice their personal comfort for the greater good of majority.
Ayedatiwa, who also said the people of the state will never forget Akeredolu for his life changing interventions and projects carried out by his administration, said the people of the state are still benefitting “from your industrialisation efforts, your infrastructure projects, your intervention in education, health and human capital development.
“We remember your vision, your laughter, your warmth and firmness. We remember your zeal and compassion for the vulnerable. Most importantly, we will continue to remember forever, your integrity, character and faith.”
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRazaak AbdulRamman led governors and other dignitaries to the lying-in-state and the Commendation Service.
Other dignitaries include, Governor Doure Diri of Bayelsa State, Deputy Governor of Ekiti, Monisade Christiana Afuye, deputy governor of Sokoto State, Idris Debby, Minister of State for Youth, Olawande Ayodele, former governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko and former Minister of state for Transport, Ademola Adegoroye joined the host governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to pay his last respect to the late Amotekun Generalissimo.
