The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed sadness over the death of Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu describing his demise as a painful loss.
Akeredolu who battled prolonged ailment died on Wednesday at the age of 67.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, Abbas described Akeredolu’s death as a big blow to the All Progressives Congress family, even as he said that the late Governor was one of the brilliant legal minds in the ruling party.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Akeredolu rose to the pinnacle profession before joining partisan politics.
The Speaker further described the deceased as “A champion of the rule of law, democracy and true federalism.”
Speaker Abbas recalled how the late Akeredolu was one of the leading human rights activists who fought against military rule, leading to the return of democracy in 1999.
While he was a member of the inner Bar as a lawyer, Abbas added that Akeredolu not only became a governor but was Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and Chairman, Southern Governors’ Forum.
The Speaker extended his condolences to the Akeredolu family, the people, and the government of Ondo State and prayed for the repose of his soul.
Born on July 21, 1956, Akeredolu hailed from Owo in Ondo State. He studied Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University (then University of Ife) graduating in 1977. He was called to the bar in 1978.
