Former colleagues, friends at OAU honour late Akeredolu in Ibadan

Friends and colleagues of late Rotimi Akeredolu at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife converged on Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday, to honour the memory of the late former governor of Ondo State.

The event, ‘A Night of Tributes in Honour of our late Grand Patron’, was organised by the Great Ife Alumni Association, Ibadan branch.

Speaking at the event, Global President of the association, Fred Aburu, described Akeredolu as a colossus of the association and student unionism in Nigeria.

“We watched with joy his flight to the top of the legal profession that saw him become attorney general of the government of Ondo State, and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He was indeed a colossus of the legal profession. All the while he remained active in the association, contributing immensely, in cash and in kind, to the growth of the association and our alma mater,” Aburu said.

In his tribute, chairman of the Ibadan branch of the association, Dr Olumuyiwa Ojo, praised the late Akeredolu for his commitment to the development of people and groups, adding that he made himself available to the community for service and humanity.

“What we shall miss in Oluwarotimi Oduanyo Akeredolu is what is mostly absent in Nigerians who achieved success and rose to exalted leadership positions.

“He was never pretentious; he was always candid and forthright in expressing his opinion. He was never haughty, always humble and willing to listen to everyone. There was no shred of disdain in his relationship with people; he accorded everyone his/her due respect.

“He understood what it meant to give opportunity to people, he therefore searched and promoted talents in all areas of human endeavours. He was a man of his words; he kept every promise he made to his people. When next shall we find another Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu? Only God knows,” Ojo said.

Also speaking at the event, former Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Eyitope Ogunmodede, extolled the virtues of Akeredolu while recalling his humanitarian contributions to society.

He described Akeredolu as the “lion heart” of Nigerian politics who, in his lifetime, found time to accommodate everyone.

He also called for expedited actions towards the actualisation of the conversion of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic to a university, among other projects, which the late governor championed.

While also extolling the late governor, Secretary-General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), Dr Wale Okediran, commended Akeredolu for not abandoning his former schoolmates and friends during his lifetime.

“He never ignored friends even after school. He looked after his friends,” Okediran added.

Okediran, who was commissioned by Akeredolu to write his biography, disclosed that he interviewed over 70 persons while trying to get in-depth details of the life and times of the late governor.

“I interviewed over 70 people for Akeredolu’s biography. The book is almost completed and we are working to release it during his next birthday in July,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family, the late governor’s brother, Professor Oluwole Akeredolu, stated that his brother’s shoes are too big for him to fill “because I am gentler than he was.”

The late governor’s son, Rotimi Akeredolu (jnr), disclosed that the family has resolved to carry on the legacies of his late father.

“The family will carry on our father’s legacies as a charitable person. In his lifetime, he didn’t even want to be connected to or praised for many of his charitable contributions to the society,” he said.