Akeredolu lived a purpose driven life – Gen. Olu Bajowa.
– Steve Ovirih.
Gen. Olu Bajowa ( Rtd), the Jagunmolu of Ikaleland and Ojagbulegun from The Source has described the immediate past Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu as a fearless leader and a legal giant of all time, describing the news of his demise as a sad one which hit him like a thunderbolt, even as he noted that Gov. Akeredolu’s death was indeed an anti- climax.
Gen. Bajowa made this known in a tribute he personally signed and made available to the press as obtained by the polity.net
The tribute reads in part: ” the sad news of the demise of the most beloved Executive Governor Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, CON, of our dear Ondo State, on 27th December, 2023, hit me like a thunderbolt. It was indeed an anti- climax!
“Despite the known fact that Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu had been facing some health challenges, I had remained prayerful and highly optimistic that he was going to pull through and survive it as it never crossed my mind for once that we were going to lose him to the cold hands of death!”
Going further, the retired Army top brass said , ” with Governor Akeredolu’s demise, Nigeria in general and the good people of Ondo State in particular have lost a leader par excellence, a dogged fighter for justice , a principled politician, renowned legal luminary and a thorough bred gentleman, who in the absence of a state Police founded ” Amotekun corps” for Ondo State and indeed Yoruba race , when our security was seriously challenged by anti- social forces. ”
Gen. Bajowa averred that his demise has created a big vacuum, stressing that the State can only draw strength, hope and solace from the assurance that God Almighty will send a comforter who is endowed with visionary leadership trait and will attract global accolades like Governor Akeredolu, now of blessed memory.
Recalling late Gov. Akeredolu’s friendly disposition to all and sundry which was his unique leadership style and which was the hallmark of his landmark achievements as Ondo State Governor, Gen. Bajowa said his pragmatic posture during his interaction with Gov. Akeredolu at the official commissioning of his broadcast outfit pet project, Awawa 94.1FM, Aiyeka was quite notable and remarkable. ” I recall with nostalgia his very humble mien and pragmatic posture during my interaction with him when he officially commissioned Awawa Radio 94.1FM, as part of the activities marking my 80th birthday, on 27th December 2020, coincidentally the same date three years before he passed on.”
Gen. Bajowa noted that it is with profound sense of personal loss that he commiserates with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the government and people of Ondo State, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, the Akeredolu family of Owo, his professional colleagues at the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA over the loss of an outstanding Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu.
The Jagunmolu of Ikaleland noted that without doubt Governor Akeredolu lived a purpose driven life, stressing that he came, he saw and he conquered, while maintaining that the best tribute to Akeredolu’s memory is to preserve his developmental legacies and to sustain peaceful co- existence which hallmarked his life and service to humanity.
