The ancient town of Owo in Ondo State will today host eminent Nigerians for the final funeral rites of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
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The body of the former Nigeria Bar (NBA) president will be interred after the funeral service at St. Andrew Anglican Church, Imola, Owo.
On Sunday, a thanksgiving service would be held in the same church.
Akeredolu passed on in December.
Funeral rites for him started from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where he lived and practised law before he joined politics.
His body moved to Akure on Wednesday before being transported to Owo, his home town.
Yesterday, Akeredolu’s kinsmen performed the traditional Ajabue dance ahead of his interment.
Many joined the procession, which started from the Ijebu-Owo home of the deceased.
The procession was led by children and relatives of the former governor.
The Ajabue dance is performed as part of the funeral rites for the dead in Owoland.
The belief of Owo, a Yoruba-speaking people, is that the dance will herald the passage of the dead to heaven.
A participant, Mr. Ola Olusegun, said the Ajabue rite is performed for the dead to enter heaven.
He explained that the male child holds the ceremonial swords called Ape and Agada while the female holds the Iya-shin (horse tail).
However, Olusegun said it is forbidden that the Ajabue should be performed on Ukoko market day, adding that it is a taboo.
At the ceremony were former Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Raimi Aminu; Members of House of Assembly, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi and Morenike Witherspoon; former Special Assistant on Natural Resources, Fatai Olushina; former Commissioner for Hygiene and Water Resources, Fatai Olotu; Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Vice President and National President, Nigeria Civil Service Union, Comrade Sunday Adeleye; and some permanent secretaries.
Akeredolu was courageous, says Odu
In her tribute, former Secretary to Government Mrs Oladunni Odu, described Akeredolu as a “man of courage, a man with great family values (even though it is his adorable Betty, his aproco partner that really has monopoly of that part of his life), and as a man of truth.”
She added: “Many of you called him courageous because you saw him speak truth to power from afar, even at the expense of mega threats to his life. But I saw him speak truth to power in the same room, in the face of the gun.”
Akeredolu’s son and former Director-General of Ondo State Performance and Project Implementation Monitoring Unit (PPIMU), Babajide, thanked the people for celebrating his father.
He said the turnout demonstrated the love the people have for the family.
Babajide said: “I want to sincerely appreciate the people of Owo for their tremendous support, for coming out in large numbers to connect with us, to accompany us, to dance with us, and to engage in all activities related to my late dad.”
We are consoled by testimonies, says family
At the service of songs yesterday, the family said testimonies and tributes to Akeredolu were consoling, adding that they reaffirmed that the late patriarch lived a life of significance and made a positive impact on society.
Akeredoku’s younger brother, Professor Wole Akeredolu, spoke on behalf of the family at the service held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral Church.
Prof. Akeredolu thanked everyone for their support and love for the former governor.
Dignitaries from across the country attended the service.
The Bishop of Owo Anglican Diocese, Rt. Rev Stephen Fagbemi, described Akeredolu as a visionary leader who was passionate about the things of God.
The Bishop emphasised that Akeredolu had left a void that will be difficult to fill in the diocese, the state, and the country.
He prayed to God to grant the family the strength to bear the loss.
In a brief exhortation, Most Reverend Simeon Borokini, the Anglican Bishop of Akure Diocese and Archbishop of Ondo Ecclesiastical Province, said Akeredolu served the people of the state well.
At the service were Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami; Deputy Governor of Kogi State Salifu Joel Oyibo, Minister of State for Youth Development Olawande Ayodele; Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Hellen Ogunwumiju; other justices of the Court of Appeal, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Ade Adetimehin; Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly Olamide Oladiji; Chief Judge Justice Olusegun Odusola; Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire; and former PDP governorship candidate in the state Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN).
Also present were the wife of the former Governor of Ekiti State, Bisi Fayemi, former Minister Prince Ademola Adegoroye, members of the House of Representatives, APC governorship aspirant Wale Akinterinwa, the leadership and members of the Christian Association of Nigeria.
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