We're planning befitting burial for Akeredolu, South-West govs pledge

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The governors of states in the South-West have pledged to jointly give a befitting burial to late Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Ritimi Akeredolu, who died in Germany on Wednesday during a battle with prostrate cancer.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who spoke on behalf of the governors, including Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, said the South-West Governors Forum was committed to accord a befitting burial to the late Akeredolu.

Abiodun told newsmen in Ibadan after the governors commiserated with wife and family of the deceased governor at his Jericho private residence on Friday, that plans on the way to set up a committee that will ensure a befitting state burial for the late Akeredolu.

He noted that the governors of the South-West will ensure that Akeredolu’s burial is given the respect and honor that he deserves.

According to him, “We will accord Akeredolu a burial that will be befitting of a great statesman and one of the leading lights of the southwest region.

“Collectively, we will be majorly responsible for his funeral rites in according him the farewell that he deserves.

“We will be setting up a joint committee of the south western states to work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo State to ensure that we give him a deserving funeral.”

Earlier, Governor Abiodun described the late Akeredolu as a courageous and fearless individual whose vacuum will be difficult to fill, saying, “We are all here, governors of the south west states, Governor Osun, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos.

“He will soon be here, he has some flight issues. We are here to commiserate with the Akeredolu family and also the Ondo State government on the passing of our senior colleague and brother His Excellency, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu who the Lord has called his side.

“Without a doubt, we are all still in a state of shock and disbelief, Governor Akeredolu was the Chairman, South-West Governors Forum, Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum; a position that he held and led very courageously, very fearlessly, a learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a successful second term governor of Ondo State.

“All of us are here on behalf of our families, the entire Southwestern states to commiserate with the family and people of Ondo State, our prayers is that the Almighty God will forgive his sins and grant him eternal repose.

“We also pray the wife, children, family members, the entire government of Ondo State the heart to bear this very sad, shocking and painful exit.

“This is a man who was an advocate for a southern presidency, we could recall vividly the reinvigorated Southern Governors Forum meeting in Delta State about two and half years ago, he championed that cause that the southern presidency should come from the South and he stayed with it among several causes that he championed successfully.

“Governor Akeredolu will be sorely missed by all of us. The void that he left will be very difficult to fill by everyone.”

The governors, Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), were led by the deputy governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Lawal to the Jericho, residence of the deceased governor.