“Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, stood firm against all odd, and he was a hero who conquered an empire of injustice against southerners. In fact, he would be greatly missed by lovers of democracy.”
December 28, 2023, News/Editorial
Like the biblical inscription recorded in 2 Samuel 1:19-24, that says: “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: How are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Askelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.” While tragedy besieged our dear nation on Christmas Eve in Plateau state where blood sucking Fulani herdsmen invaded Ndun, Ngyong, Murfet, Makundary, Tamiso, Chiang, Tahore, Gawarba, Dares, Meyenga, Darwat, and Butura Kampani villages in the Barkin Ladi, Mangu and Bokkos areas of the state burning houses while killing more than 150 residents, as many are hospitalized.
The Country was still mourning this dastardly act, another news broke out that over 20 persons were feared killed in a crude oil explosion at a waterside in Omoku, the headquarters of the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers state. As this was not even enough, an Iroko tree, a mighty one fell flat without restoration.
The death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, of Ondo State came to many as a rude shock. The late Governor’s Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, had broken the news with an official statement:
“With a heavy heart, the Ondo State Government announces the tragic passing of our beloved Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON. Mr Governor peacefully departed from this world in the early hours of today, Wednesday, December 27, 2023. This tragedy has left behind a profound void in our hearts. Gov. Akeredolu answered the eternal call while receiving medical treatment in Germany. He succumbed to complications arising from protracted prostate cancer,”
It could be recall that in 2021, Afrikanwatch Network honoured the late Governor, as, ‘Defender of Democracy and Governor of the year. The prestigious African Gold Merit Award (AGMA) was received by the late Governor’s Secretary to the State government, Princes Oladunni Odu on August 21 on his behalf. The event was chaired by the immediate Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, who also received an award as the man of the year. Others were, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the current Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Sen. Anthony Adefuye, Dr. Tunji Abayomi, Constitutional Lawyer and Human Rights Activist-a very close ally of the Governor, among other dignitaries.
It was through this honour, that Afrikanwatch came in contact with the Governor and his administration. In fact, the Media outfit received great commendations from the late Governor, pin pointing respectively the great role Afrikanwatch has played in nation building.
His death indeed has left a great vacuum, having stood his ground against the killer Fulani herdsmen who were destroying farmlands, kidnapping, raping, and murdering innocent citizens in the state and other part of Nigeria.
Mr. Akeredolu, SAN, was an advocate of democratic process and justice. In fact, He fought gallantly to protect lives and properties of Ondo people, even with threats coming from his APC led Federal government of former President Muhammedu Buhari, who his Fulani herdsmen were making lives miserable for citizens. Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, stood firm against all odd, and he was a hero who conquered an empire of injustice against southerners. In fact, he would be greatly missed by lovers of democracy.
The late Governor was born on 21st of July, 1956 in Owo, Ondo State to the families of late Rev. J. O. Ola Akeredolu of Owo and Lady (Evang) Grace Akeredolu of Igbotu, Ese-Odo Government Area of Ondo State. The young Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, ‘AKETI’ as fondly called by friends and admirers started his primary school education at Government School, Owo before proceeding to the famous Aquinas College Akure in 1968. He later proceeded to the prestigious Loyola College, Ibadan in 1969 where he completed his secondary school education. Rotimi also attended Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his Higher School Certificate.
He was later admitted into the famous University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 1974, where he bagged LLB degree in 1977 and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School for his BL in 1978.
His pedigree jettisoned a riveted story of a rebel with a just cause. Apart from his illustrious ancestry and cosmopolitan upbringing, a peep into his tenure as elected Vice President of the Student Union in 1975/76 at the famous and prestigious University of Ife now (Obafemi Awolowo University) showed the architecture of service, fame and greatness in his dealings.
As a leader of the Students Union at Ife, he helped to engineer a leadership drive on issues, robust debates and constructive engagements. Rotimi encouraged a genuine mobilization of mass consciousness against inequality, injustice, corruption, arbitrariness and recklessness.
By the time he graduated from the University, his startling and sterling leadership qualities of honesty, tolerance, fairness, transparency, endurance, vision, teamwork, justice and self-respect became the hallmark of emulation, which promoted his character and ideological leaning in all of his endeavors in life.
Legal contributions
As a legal icon in the administration of Justice, he served his professional body, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in various capacities both at the Branch and National level such as Secretary, NBA, Ibadan branch 1985-1986, member, National Executive Committee of NBA from 1985 till date, National Publicity Secretary NBA 1988-1989. Chairman, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria 2005-2006, Vice Chairman, NBA Ibadan Branch 1992-1994, Member of legal Education 1997-1999, Life Member, Body of Benchers, Chairman, Legal Aid Council 2005-2006, National President NBA 2008-2010, Member, Council of legal Education 2008-2010, member of council, international Bar Association 2008-2010, Member of Council, Pan African Lawyers Union 2008-2010, member, National Judicial Council, 2010-2012.
In 1998, and as a mark of recognition of his industry, erudition, service and brilliance, he was conferred with a title of, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), the highest honour in the legal profession in Nigeria. And until his died, he was a Life Bencher.
Oluwarotimi became the President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) unopposed in 2008-2010. In fact, he was unanimously nominated as the single and unopposed candidate; he became a brand for principled resistance to all tendencies which sought to undermine the tenets of law and justice. He used his tenure to expand the respect accorded legal practice and its practitioners as well as the judiciary in general.
In fact, Akeredolu domesticated most access to justice by providing several platforms for easy engagement between the largely illiterate grassroots public of Nigeria and legal representation. His tenure of leadership was so charismatic that the NBA became and was recognized by successive governments till date as a strong voice and idea bank, to be consulted and respected for honest and viable alternate view on critical national issues in our country.
Apart from services to NBA, he also served as Secretary General, Loyola College Ibadan Old Boys Association 1995-1999.
In 1997, he was appointed as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State. His tenure as the Chief Law Officer of the State also marked the institution of monumental initiatives of quality access to justice, proper documentation of proceedings and citations. Apart from being a member of the Judicial Service Commission, he also helped inscribe probity and accountability in governance.
His Activist and for fight for democracy
Being the days introductory to the return to civil rule in 1999, the period of service as commissioner in Ondo State provided for Akeredolu, a peep into the minds of the political class as well as to the workings of the political process that was to emerge.
Internationally known as a lawyer with exceptional skills and fitness, he is also a reputable social crusader and human right activist and evangelist of ethical society.
The late Governor was a veteran of countless campaigns for leadership integrity, political freedom, equal rights and justice, Akeredolu in company of other illustrious patriots prosecuted the bitter struggle to validate the June 12, 1993 Presidential election which was unjustly and wickedly annulled by the then ruling military junta thereby truncating the will of the people as freely expressed.
He also personally led the street protests against fuel hike in Ibadan in January 2012 when government failed to back up their actions with reasons. As a lawyer and humanist, Akeredolu’s history is replete with humanitarian works and astute mentorship of young people with great but repressed potentials.
Political journey
Akeredolu entered the scene of partisan politics on the platform of the then main opposition party in Nigeria, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. Upon sighting him and his bag-full pedigree, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was embraced by the people with genuine warmth yet unprecedented for a new comer into the murky waters of partisan politics.
By 2014, when the All Progressive Congress, APC was formed, he became the first State Chairman (interim) and foremost mentor to the party in Ondo State. He together with other illustrious leaders led the party to a victorious Presidential Election in 2015. And by 2016 in a free, fair and credible primary election of the party in Ondo State, he was elected as the Gubernatorial candidate of APC for the 2016 Governorship Election.
With the flag of the party proudly presented to him by the leader of the party and President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, Akeredolu consolidated his phenomena campaign and took the opponent by storm in totally rampaging and electric mass movement yet unimaginable in the annals of Ondo State campaign history.
On November 26th, 2016 when the gubernatorial election was eventually held, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN not only won overwhelmingly by popular votes, he defeated his opponents which included an incumbent party and a recalcitrant break away of his part, with an open, incontrovertible and monster landslide victory which shocked everyone including book makers. It was one of those spectacular and particular victories in Nigerian History which was so satisfying that it could not be challenged at the Election Petitions Tribunal set up for angry contestants. Upon being sworn in as Governor on Friday, February the 24th, 2017, hence he adopted the simple and populist office title of “Mr. Governor” translated to “Arakunrin” (My Brother) instead of the elitist cliché His Excellency, which he termed as a title only meant for the Almighty God.
From the days of ACN to the present APC moments, the following are a few of the distinguished contributions of Akeredolu towards the development of his party, the APC, Candidate of the party in the 2012 Governorship election, Appearance at Election Petition Tribunals where he and other lawyers represented the party candidates free of charge, Interim Chairman of APC (Ondo State), Member of the 2015 APC Presidential Campaign Committee (PCC), Appearance at Election Petitions Tribunal & Court of Appeal for the party and its House of Assembly (ODHA) candidates at the 2015 election.
As Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, Akeredolu alongside his colleagues in other South West States took up the battle to end the several security challenges confronting the region head-on. Like a true general, he led the battle for the formation of the South West Security Network, code named Amotekun. He placed the interest and safety of the region far above his personal interest. Today, Amotekun is tackling the insecurity confronting the region. He was the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, a position his colleague accorded him the due reverence arising from his avowed commitment to the upliftment of the downtrodden and on his unyielding stance on the principles of nation building.
To many people, he was ‘Mr. Talk and Do’. From his first day in office, Governor Akeredolu left no one in doubt that he was ready to work and leave his footprint on the sands of time in Ondo State. From the Ore Interchange Bridge (the redemption bridge) to the unprecedented number of roads constructed by his administration also earned him the sobriquet, Mr. Road and various industrial revolution too numerous to mention.
In appreciation of a lifetime well spent in service, the late Governor was honoured with a plethora of awards. Some of these include; Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association, Ibadan Branch Merit award – 1994, NBA award in recognition of conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria – 1998, Loyola College, Ibadan Old Boys Association, Alumni Merit Award, Law Student Society, OAU, Award of merit as advocate of repute, Quatar Law Forum Award of global leader in law-2009, Nigeria Legal Awards, 2010- life achievement award, Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (LL.D) from the Achievers University, Owo – 2014, Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (LL.D) from the Igbinedion University, Okada. – 2017, Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Administration and Governance (DPA) 2018 from the Western Africa Union University (WAUU), Republic of Benin – 2018, National Award by Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), December, 2020 and many more.
Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, was truly a wrestler, a dogged fighter, indefatigable, fearless, tenacious advocate, diligent solicitor and one who smiled back at death. Adieu.
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