By Femi Oladapo
NIGERIANS from all walks of life have endorsed Chief Rotimi Akeredolu as the most suitable person among those jostling for the position of governor of Ondo state in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
Cross section of professionals, who spoke with our correspondents within and outside Ondo state, recently, expressed confidence that the real sun of Ondo state will shine if Akeredolu emerge as the next governor of the state, based on his wealth of experience and international connections.
According to the Coordinator of a non governmental organisation, Ondo State Democracy Forum, Comrade Olufemi Adelakun, the best thing that will happen to Ondo state is for a highly rated international legal luminary like Chief Rotimi Akeredolu to emerge as the governor of Ondo state on October 20, 2012.
In the words of Adelakun, “We need a clear departure form the present cosmetics government of Olusegun Mimiko and it is only a political personality like Chief Rotimi Akeredolu that we need to take our sunshine state to the Promised Land. We have been deceived enough by the present government and I think this is the best time to make a wise decision by voting for Akeredolu, in order to bring an end to the lackluster performance of Mimiko.”
Also, students across Ondo state have endorsed the aspiration of Chief Akeredolu because of their belief that he is known to be a man of his words, unlike those they described as dribblers, who prefer to toy with the destiny of thousand of students of Ondo state origin.
Hundreds of students of Ondo state origin at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Federal University of Science and Technology, (FUTA) Akure and Adeyemi College of Education told this paper in confidence that they will mobilise for Chief Rotimi Akeredolu so that he would help them to send Governor Olusegun Mimiko packing on October 20 this year.
The boldest among the students, Johnson Omolayo said Dr Mimiko deceived students to vote for him by promising that what his administration would do for them would surpass what previous governments have done, but all hiss promises, according to him were not fulfilled since he assumed the position of governor of Ondo state in 2009.
“I will enjoin my fellow students not to vote for the re-election of governor Mimiko. He has refused to pay our bursaries and scholarships since he came into power in 2009. For a governor to behave in that manner in his first term in office, now imagine the atrocities he would commit if given the opportunity to go for a second term.
Another area where Chief Rotimi Akeredolu may likely cost home to victory over his co-contestants is the legal arena were thousands of lawyers in Ondo state are reportedly rooting for his candidacy and eventual victory.
Majority of lawyers who spoke with our reporters were very happy to have a candidate in person of a former president of the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA), presenting himself for service to the great people of Ondo state.
In the words of Barrister Soji Okewoye, “Everybody in Ondo state must rally round Chief Rotimi Akeredolu and ensure that he emerges as the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria and as well become the next governor of Ondo state.”
“Akeredolu is attested and trusted leader. We have seen his achievements in the past offices he held and if given the chance to become the governor of Ondo state, I am sure the state would become an enviable one among its peers,” Okewoye added.
In addition, Igbo indigenes that are resident in Ondo state too, are not left out of those rooting for the emergence of Akeredolu as the next governor of Ondo state. Majority of Igbo indigenes across the eighteen local government areas of Ondo state, who spoke with THE PLATFORM were full of praises for Chief Akeredolu for being a detribalised Nigerian since he came into prominence. They claimed that, apart form the fact that he married an Igbo Woman, Mrs. Betty Chioma Anyanwu-Akeredolu, he has been displaying nationalistic tendencies in every position he assume, as well as in his day to day interaction with fellow Nigerians.
They all promised to contribute financially and morally to ensure that he is sworn into office as the next governor of Ondo state in February 2013.
Meanwhile, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu has purchased the form for indication of his interest in the governorship race of Ondo state at the national secretariat of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Abuja.
He was accompanied to the ACN secretariat, to purchase the form recently, by the Ondo state Chairman of ACN, Chief Adesoji Olusola; state Secretary, Hon. Adesipe Adegboyega; Treasurer, Engineer Ade Adetimehin; state Youth Leader, Enas Mohammed; and state Woman Leader Evelyn Modupe, among others.
After receiving the nomination form, the constitution of the party and party guidelines from the National Secretary of ACN, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, Akeredolu told newsmen that power of incumbency would not work for Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the forthcoming election as he would defeat him without recourse to violence or thuggery.
"We are not going to engage anybody over the issue of incumbency. Where there is already abysmal failure, incumbency will not matter, he said".
Born as Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of Akeredolu family in Owo and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, on the 21st of July, 1956 in Owo, Ondo, State of Nigeria.
The then young Rotimi, now fondly called Aketi by his colleagues, friends and admirers, started his primary education at Government School, Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola Colege, Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively.
Aketi attended the most beautiful university on the African Continent, the great University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, in Ile Ife, Osun State, where he obtained his LLB degree in 1977 and the B.L from the Nigerian Law School in 1978. His leadership traits soon came to the fore with his election as the Vice President, Students’ Union, University Of Ife, for the 1975 to1976 academic session.
He served the Nigerian Bar Association in various capacities at both the branch and national levels meritoriously. His record of service spans almost three decades. Aketi was the Secretary General of Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan branch, 1985 to 1986. He has been a member of National Executive Council of the Association from 1985 till date. He served as the Publicity Secretary during the regime of the late Alao Aka Bashorun, a period considered as the golden era of the Bar, 1988 to 1989. He was also a member of Legal Aid Council of Nigeria from 1989 to 1991. He became the Vice Chairman of the Ibadan branch in 1991 and subsequently the Chairman between 1992 and 1994. His thirst for service compelled him to accept to serve the Old Boys’ Association of one of his secondary schools, Loyola College, Ibadan, as the Secretary General from 1995 to 1999.
He became the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State between 1997 and 1999 serving at the same time as a member of the Ondo State Judicial Service Commission. He embarked on far reaching reforms as the AG of the state. Some of his achievements are still visible in the state judiciary today. He was also a member of the Council of Legal Education during this period by virtue of his position as the AG. He first became a member of Body of Benchers at the same time, 1997 to 1999, and was subsequently re-appointed in 2006. He remains a member till date. He was the Chairman of the Legal Aid Council from 2005 to 2006. He was conferred with the prestigious title of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1998.
He was a member of the Governing Council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies between 2008 and 2010, a member of Council of Legal Education, a member of Council, International Bar Association and Pan African Lawyers Union during the same period. He currently serves as NBA representative in the National Judicial Council. A devout Christian, he is the Chancellor of the Anglican Church, Owo Diocese.
Aketi has been the recipient of many distinguished awards from reputable organisations both at home and abroad. These include the OAU Alumni Association Merit Award, 1995, NBA Award of recognition on the conferment of the SAN title in 1998, Loyola College Old boys’ Association Merit Award, 1995, Sports Writers Association Merit Award as the Legal Adviser, 1995, Sports Writers Association Merit Award as the Patron, 1998, Qatari Bar Association Award, among others numerous to mention.
He married Betty Chioma Anyanwu-Akeredolu of Emeabiam, Owerri Local Government. The marriage is blessed with four kids, Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu (Jnr), Dr Teniola Adanma Akeredolu, Miss Yejide Ayomofe Akeredolu and Babajide Ayotola Akeredolu.
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