Ohanaeze mourns Akeredolu, describes late gov as inter-ethnic genius

Apex Igbo sociocultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has described late governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu as a courageous man who spoke truth to power.

The Igbo group also described him as a great in-law, inter-ethnic genius, soldier of democracy and the popular sentiment of the southwest politics.

In a statement issued in Enugu on Saturday, December 30, through its national publicity secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze said it received with grief the sad news of the passing of “an Angel of history; a robust visionary, purveyor of morals, the jinx breaker, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, a legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, an inter-ethnic genius, the two time governor of Ondo State and the former chairman of the Southwest Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu.”

It said the former governor was not only an exceptional in-law of the Igbo; he was also their noble son by the reason of marriage to their adorable daughter, Her Excellency, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu- Akeredolu.

It said: “It is noteworthy that the Ohanaeze Constitution confers Igbo citizenship on our inlaws and their offspring.

“As long as the marriage with Betty lasted, Akeredolu displayed an 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 read.

It added that the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, could not withhold his emotions on hearing the sad news of the demise of “one of our best”.

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.

Chief Iwuanyanwu cited with freshness how Akeredolu chaired the meeting of the Southern Governors’ Forum at Enugu which emphatically re-echoed the earlier Asaba Declaration for Southern Presidency.

He said that Akeredolu demonstrated an extraordinary acumen in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The Igbo leader qualified Akeredolu as a courageous man who spoke truth to power; a soldier of democracy and the popular sentiment of the South West politics.

He said: “Throughout his career, Akeredolu displayed an amazing social skill, dispositional humility, character comeliness, legal wizardry, irresistible charisma, intellectual prowess and a disarming political acumen.

“Although, Rotimi did not live long enough, but Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) had asserted that it is not the length of life  but the depth of life that matters. In other words, the Rotimi Akeredolu trajectory is a distinctive tribute to audacity, selfless service, humility, group loyalty, awesome generosity, resilience,  perseverance and Levite spirituality. He has by his granite convictions, left indelible marks in the sands of time”, it added.

Ohanaeze therefore urged “our amiable daughter, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and the immediate family to accept with serenity and fortitude the inevitable reality for all mortals; and that they should take solace in the enviable track records of our son while he navigated his paths like a colossus”.

The Igbo Leader further requested all the Igbo structures in the South West of Nigeria to show adequate solidarity to the good people of Ondo State as they bid a befitting farewell to their son in-law.