The remains of the late former governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu have arrived the state for burial.
The body of the late governor arrived the governor’s office at 12:30pm on Wednesday for a brief lying-in-state programme which last about 10 minutes.
Akeredolu died in Germany on December 27, 2023, where he was receiving treatment for prostate cancer.
Ondo State Chief Judge Justice Olusegun Odusola described the deceased as a man of courage.
The chief judge spoke at a Special Court Session in honour of Akeredolu held at the State High Court headquarters in Akure.
Family, friends, and political associates of the deceased were in the court room to honour the late governor.
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Justice Odusola said, “Arakunrin (Akeredolu) was a courageous fighter, who faced the serious security challenges in the state with such ingenious courage that his approach has become a national model.
“He was amazingly down to earth and this great asset is also his major weakness in a society where sycophancy is the order of the day
“Whatever he promised to do, he would fight to accomplish. He had a desire to build an ultra-modern facility for the High Court (and had started the journey), but could not do so partly because of his ill health but largely because the individual who stood as the eye of the Executives in the administration of the judiciary could not interpret that dream.
“It is a delight, to note that Arakunrin never interfered with judicial activities even when it did not favour his desires. He would always tell us ‘Milord, deliver your judgment in your true conscience, if I am not satisfied I will appeal.’ That is the man we are all gathered here to bid farewell on his last journey. I am paying tribute to a man who understood the principles of separation of powers and lived it, not only in words but in action.”
Akeredolu will be buried on Friday, February 23 in Owo, his hometown.
