• Act Fast, Nigerians Facing Untold Hardship – Anglican Primate
The week-long funeral rites for the late former Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, reached the climax, yesterday, following the funeral service held for the deceased at the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew, Owo, Ondo State.

During the funeral service, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, led governors and other dignitaries to the church.

The remains of Akeredolu, who was until his death, the Chancellor of the Owo Anglican Diocese, were brought into the church at around 9:55am with a guard of honour mounted by officers of the Amotekun Corps.  Tinubu, who described Akeredolu as a fearless soldier and advocate of the people, called for the preservation of the legacies of the late governor to serve as comfort to those endeared to him.

The president maintained that “as we gather here today, we are confronted with one inexorable truth: seasons come and seasons go, much like the ebb and flow of our lives, and each of us shall go with the tides one after the other.

“We are also reminded that in this transient journey through life, we are but whispers in the wind. The parts of us that endure after we get to the end of our journey are the choices we make, and this moment is the ultimate confirmation of the noble paths trodden by our dear brother.

“There was no point in life where his voice shook in telling his truth. He was a vastly intelligent man whose passion has created quite a wide vacuum beyond this community.”
On his part, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stated that his late boss would be greatly missed, particularly since the late governor paved the way for his political journey.

“You are all here because he stood for something: good governance and the rule of law. He means a lot to different people, and that is why he has been described in different words. He was a courageous leader, a fighter, and a warrior. How can we forget him so soon? It is not possible because he lives.”

In his sermon, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, who was represented by the Anglican Bishop of Ikwerre, Rivers State, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, while delivering the sermon, described the late Akeredolu as having a self-disciplined personality.

The Primate urged Tinubu to act fast and address the increasing hardship facing Nigerians.

He said: “His reason for imbibing the principle of self-discipline is because of his understanding of the brevity of life.May I, on behalf of Nigerians, pray and call on the President, Senator Bola Tinubu, to do something to reduce the hardship faced by Nigerians?

“We have the hope he would do it because he promised us renewed hope, and according to him, it is his turn, so the turn and opportunity have been given to him now. We are waiting and expecting the fulfilment of our renewed hope.”

Meanwhile, the wife of the late governor, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, dismissed the claim that her husband was a weakling who was not in control of his household.

Betty, in her tribute, disclosed with the demeanour of Akeredolu, will be exposed to all manners of mockery “from the so-called friends and adversaries alike.

“Can an Amotekun generalissimo be a weakling? Not a few lashed out that you were a weakling because you loved me.”

The remains of the late governor, who died on December 26, 2023, after battling with prostrate cancer, were later interred close to his Maranatha residence at the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Owo.

Dignitaries present at the funeral service include Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje and other members of the National Working Committee of the party; Governor of Lagos State, BabajideSanwoolu; Governor of Ogun State, DapoAbiodun and Governor of Ekiti, AbiodunOyebanji.

Others are Governor of Oyo State, SeyiMakinde; Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; Governor of Bayelsa State, DouyeDiri; Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo; Governor of Delta, Sheriff Oborevwori;Governor of Benue, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia; Governor of Osun State, AdemolaAdeleke; former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. OlusegunMimiko; former Governor of Ekiti State, KayodeFayemi; former Governor of Ogun State, IbikunleAmosun and former Governor of Zamfara, Abdul’azizYari, among others.