Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has declared a two-day holiday as the state prepares to bury its late former governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
In a statement on Tuesday by his chief press secretary Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa said the holidays — Thursday, February 22 and Friday, February 23 — would enable people of the state participate in the burial.
Akeredolu died on December 27, 2023 in a German hospital where he was being treated for prostate cancer. He will be buried on February 23 in Owo, his hometown.
“The Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared Thursday, 22nd and Friday, 23rd of February 2024 as public holidays in the state. This is in honour of the former Governor of the State, the late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON,” the statement said.
“The two work-free days will allow the people of the state to participate in the burial activities of the former governor.”
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According to the statement, the burial activities, which started last Thursday, would continue on Wednesday, February 21 with Ajabue (traditional rites).
It also includes the special court session in Court 1, Ondo State High Court Headquarters, Akure while the lying-in-state and commendation service holds at Akure Township Stadium. There will also be an evening of tributes at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo in the evening of Wednesday.
On Thursday, February 22 there will be a service of songs at St Andrews Cathedral, Imola Street, Owo while a wake holds at Maranatha Villa, Owo. There will be a candlelight procession and world gyration by the Kegites Club at 8 pm till dawn.
On Friday, February 23, the funeral service would hold at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo and the interment would follow immediately after the burial service at the burial site, Owo.
On Saturday, there will be Akeredolu Memorial Friendly Football Match at the Akure Township Stadium, Akure while on Sunday, there will be a thanksgiving service at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo.
