President Bola Tinubu has described the former Governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu as a fearless politician.
Tinubu in a statement personally signed by him said It was a difficult task to have to pen a tribute and sing a dirge for a departing soul, saying it was a more difficult job in African culture when one is compelled to do so for a younger person.
He said, “Here I am having the difficult job of singing a dirge for Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, my beloved brother, confidant, political soulmate, and the Executive Governor of Ondo State.
“It is an impossible task to fully capture in words Rotimi’s towering figure and his human essence.
“Rotimi was a man who moved our nation towards equity, fairness and justice in his strident advocacy against every form of injustice in our country through the instrumentality of the law as a senior advocate, attorney-general of his beloved state, as President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Governor of Ondo State.
“In a challenging moment of our statehood when marauding agents of darkness spread their tentacles across our country, Rotimi was a strong voice in wilderness calling us to rethink our security architecture so we can have a more secure nation. His unrelenting advocacy led to the birth of the local police in the South West.”
The President added his personal journey with Akeredolu started as joint members of the progressive family.
He said they fought many battles together to restore progressive governance in the South West, Edo State, and Nigeria as a whole.
According to him, During this uncertain period, Rotimi was resolute and unflinching. He showed uncommon courage as a member of our legal team in our battles to reclaim our stolen mandates in Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, and Osun States. A gallant lawyer and one of the finest of the legal profession.