The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, coordinator in Ondo State, Mrs. Victoria Nnenna Ani, has described the immediate past governor of Ondo State, the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, as a fearless patriot who defended the rights and privileges of the downtrodden and less-privileged in the society throughout his lifetime.

Ani made the statement at Jericho Avenue, the Ibadan home of the late governor, where she led the NYSC management team to condole the wife of the legal icon, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and the family.

Ani who declared that the demise of the late governor was too much a burden on the lives he impacted while alive said that Nigerians would never forget in a hurry the imprints he made in the political sphere.

“His Excellency, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu was a central figure to good governance, justice, rule of law and democratic ideals which made him one of the few ones who laboured to ensure that citizens and residents enjoyed dividends of democracy in the real sense of it.

Ani admonished the wife of the late human rights activist to accept what happened as the will of God as everyone who he impacted fervently prayed for his recovery but “God knows best.”

“We shall continue to remember you, the children and entire family in our prayers having implicit trust in God that the departed soul is resting in the bosom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The Lord will comfort the entire family and wipe away all tears. He will stand by you Ma and give you strength to carry on where Aketi left off and I pray it shall be well with the soul of everyone in the family.”


Responding, Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu appreciated the NYSC for sharing in their grief at the trying period.

The widow, who spoke through the younger brother of the deceased, Pastor Kola Akeredolu said Aketi had been a father whose roles and responsibilities transcended that of a brother.

“Your coming here all the way from Akure in Ondo State is as a result of the impact our father made while he was alive, otherwise, the team from NYSC would have stayed back. Several thousands dying daily are unsung but your presence here confirms that our father served humanity and you have come to honour him for his good deeds not only to NYSC but to mankind as a whole.”

He added: “Thank you for not forgetting his impact and it will be our joy if you can go out there and replicate such to Nigerians who see the death of our father as the end of the road. If you can take that step and put smiles into the faces of several thousands of people as our father did, then his death would have taught everyone a great lesson that we are all created to lift ourselves up.”

Prayers were offered for Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, her children, the siblings of late Aketi, the entire family as well as citizens and residents of Ondo State.