The family of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has advised Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State to honour Akeredolu by completing the projects initiated by the late governor.
The family said the move was a way of honouring the legacies of the late governor in the state.
Akeredolu died in a German hospital during a protracted illness on December 27, 2023.
Speaking on behalf of the Akeredolu family, Babajide Akeredolu, in a statement on Monday, described the naming of a project after the late governor before its completion as a misplaced priority.
He noted that the naming of the judicial complex after his father was premature and insincere, saying true immortality would mean completing the project and ensuring its functionality.
“We acknowledge and commend Governor Aiyedatiwa for performing the groundbreaking ceremony for the proposed Judicial Complex, a project initiated by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a passionate advocate for the judiciary, this project was dear to his heart. However, the current politics surrounding the project are glaring.
“Naming a project after someone before its completion is both premature and insincere. True immortality lies in completing the project and ensuring its functionality. If the governor is genuinely committed to honoring Arakunrin Akeredolu’s legacy, he must demonstrate this through actions, not empty gestures,” Babajide said.
He noted that part of the ways to honour Akeredolu is for the current government to upgrade the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic to a university, saying “All preliminary studies and recommendations for this upgrade were completed during Akeredolu’s administration. The governor should expedite this process to fulfill his predecessor’s vision.”
He also advised the governor to complete the first flyover in Akure, address abandoned road projects, and support civil servants by addressing “the glaring discrepancies in salary payments.”
The son of the late governor also clarified the absence of Akeredolu’s family at the maiden edition of his memorial lecture and stated that the family was not informed of the event.
He said, “Specifically, the Leadership Lecture Series organised by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, coinciding with our family’s remembrance event in Owo, deserves clarification and context.
“It is important to state unequivocally that Governor Aiyedatiwa was aware of the Akeredolu family’s plans for the remembrance. My uncle and head of the Akeredolu family, Prof. Wole Akeredolu, personally informed the governor at his monthly praise night in November at the Dome in Akure.
“The governor acknowledged this and affirmed that the state government would be a part of the event.”
He explained, “An official invitation letter was delivered to the Director of Protocol, Government House, Mr George Asonja. The letter was duly received and acknowledged.
“At no point did the governor or his representatives indicate any conflicting plans or suggest that the state government intended to organise a separate event.
“It was, therefore, both shocking and deeply disappointing to learn about the state-organised event through social media, just three days before it was held. Even more disappointing was that no member of the Akeredolu family was invited to this event.
“This lack of courtesy and respect is unheard of and unbecoming, especially for an event meant to honour the memory of a former governor and patriarch.
“While we recognise that the state government has the prerogative to organise such events, basic decency and protocol demand that the family of the deceased be informed and included. This glaring oversight leads one to question if it was intentional mischief or based on erroneous advice from the governor’s aides.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
