Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, visited the family of the late Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday.
Tinubu’s wife arrived at the Jerico residence of Akeredolu around 12:45 p.m. in the company of the deputy governor of Oyo State, Bayo Lawal, the Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs. Olubunmi Oni and the Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, among others.
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The First Lady was received by Akeredolu’s wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, and other members of the family.
Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu died on Wednesday, at the age of 67, in a German hospital.
Meanwhile, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday mourned the demise of the two-time governor of Ondo State.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it received the news of his death with shock and grief, describing the former governor as “an Angel of history; a robust visionary, purveyor of morals, and jinx breaker.”
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia reads, in part:
“The former governor was not only an exceptional in-law of the Igbo; he was also our noble son by reason of marriage to our adorable daughter, Her Excellency, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu. It is noteworthy that the Ohanaeze Constitution confers Igbo citizenship on our in-laws and their offspring.
“As long as the marriage with Betty lasted, Akeredolu displayed unflinching fidelity, marital exemplariness and a profound commitment to the welfare of the Emeabiam community, Owerri-West, in Imo State. Such magnanimous relationship was extended to the Igbo community in Ondo State”.
The statement disclosed that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, could not withhold his emotions on hearing the sad news of the demise of Akeredolu.
“The Igbo Leader recalled the audacious roles that Rotimi Akeredolu played in the creation of the Western Nigeria Security Network, otherwise called the Amotekun: the zest and steadfastness with which, as the Chairman of the South West Governors Forum, coordinated the zoning of the Presidency to the Southern part of Nigeria.
Iwuanyanwu further requests all the Igbo structures in the South West of Nigeria to show adequate solidarity to the good people of Ondo State as they bid farewell to the former governor.