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In a somber turn of events, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has passed away at the age of 67, following a prolonged health battle. The demise of the two-term governor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and ex-Attorney General of Ondo State, was confirmed by the state's Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Bamidele Ademola-Olateju.
The governor peacefully departed in the early hours of Wednesday, December 27, 2023, while undergoing medical treatment in Germany, succumbing to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer, as disclosed in the official statement released by Ademola-Olateju.
A letter has been dispatched to President Bola Tinubu to inform him of Governor Akeredolu's passing, with further details on funeral arrangements to be provided by the family and the state government.
Fondly referred to as "Aketi" by friends and admirers, Governor Akeredolu was a multifaceted leader, serving as the Chairman of the Southern Governors' Forum, which comprised governors from 17 Southern Nigerian states. Additionally, he led his five South-Western counterparts, championing various reforms, notably in the realm of security, with the establishment of the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun.
Governor Akeredolu, characterized by his unpretentious and vocal stance against injustice, oppression, and herdsmen attacks on farmers, was a steadfast critic of the administration of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, despite being a member of the same ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Fearless in his convictions, he stood for the people and held the Federal Government accountable, particularly during an attack on a Catholic church in Owo, his hometown.
An ally of President Bola Tinubu, Akeredolu was a vocal advocate of state police and restructuring, principles he championed until his last breath. The untimely passing of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu marks the end of an era and leaves a significant void in Ondo State.
