Southwest Governors To Collaborate With Akeredolu’s Family To Give Ex-Ondo Gov Befitting Burial

The Southwest Governors Forum, comprising governors from Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, and Ekiti, is collaborating with their Ondo state counterpart to organize a befitting burial for the late Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

VerseNews reports that the forum, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, conveyed this during a condolence visit to the Akeredolu family.

“We are here to commiserate with the Akeredolu family and also the Ondo state government on the passing of our senior colleague and brother, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who the Lord has called to his side.

“He was a senior advocate of law and a highly intelligent governor. He played a prominent role in ensuring that the Presidency returned to the South and he stood firm on his ground. He worked so hard. He is reliable and dependable and we all feel very hurt at his death.

“We as the governors of the Southwest have agreed that we will give him a befitting burial and we have people who will work with the family and government of Ondo state for a befitting funeral rites.

“Governor Akeredolu was the Chairman of the Southwestern Governor’s Forum, he was the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, a position that he held, he led very courageously, very fearlessly. He was a learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a successful second term governor of Ondo state.”

“Collectively, we will be partly, majorly responsible for the funeral rites according to him a farewell that he deserves. We have expressed that to the family, we will be setting up a joint committee of the Southwestern states to work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo state to ensure that we give him a deserving farewell,” governor Abiodun said.

Other governors present included Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), and Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, representing Governor Seyi Makinde.

The late Akeredolu served as the chairman of both the Southwestern Governors Forum and the Southern Governors Forum.

The governors discussed their plans with the family and announced the formation of a joint committee for the burial arrangements.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State missed the visit due to a flight delay, while Governor Seyi Makinde is currently out of the country on holiday.

Journalists were restricted from entering the room where the governors met with the Akeredolu family.