…his demise is a monumental loss to mankind
A past Chairman, of NBA Owo Branch (2018 – 2020),Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, Esq. has described the death of the former Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as a monumental loss.
According to Ahmed, Rotimi Akeredolu influenced his practice of law, aside Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Gani Fawehinmi.
The death of Akeredolu was announced by Government on the 27th December 2023. He was a sitting Governor of Ondo State as at the time of his death and he died after a protracted illness.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Ahmed affirmed that the death of Akeredolu was a very sad event and it was generally considered as a great and monumental loss to mankind.
“From the President of the Nigeria Federation, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to the Artisans and Market women; the people were unanimous in their view that a man of the people and a courageous leader and advocate has transited to the world beyond.
“The death of Akeredolu, SAN was a personal loss to me. He was one of my leading mentors and leaders in the legal profession. I joined the legal profession in 2006 after graduating from the prestigious University of Nigeria as a Nutritionist and Dietitian in 1993. In other words, I became a lawyer after thirteen years of practicing as a Nutritionist/Dietitian. It was indeed a tough and difficult decision borne out of exemplary fondness, passion and love for the noble profession of the law. My passion, fondness and love for the profession was as a result of my deep affection for Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his exploits. I was convinced early enough that Awolowo was able to attain the lofty heights he attained because he was a lawyer.
“Another motivating factor that facilitated my decision to study law was my love for Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi, SAN, SAM, popularly known as ‘Gani. Throughout my undergraduate days, I was a cult follower and admirer of Gani. I had always covet Gani’s advocacy for the downtrodden and oppressed. In my resolve to follow Gani’s footstep, I resolved to study law.
“It is on record that apart from Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Gani Fawehinmi; no other leader has influenced my practice of law like Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN. I was privileged to meet him in my early years at the Bar and he was kind enough to provide the needed tutelage, mentoring and direction.
It was in 2007 that our parts crossed in Owo.
“He had visited our branch in preparation for his ambition to become the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. As a branch, we received him warmly and resolved to give his ambition all the needed support. By 2008 when he floated his presidential campaign, I was already the Secretary of NBA Owo. It was on record that the Chairman of my branch, Mr. Segun Aderibigbe and myself were on his campaign train throughout the length and breadth of the country. This was the opportunity that brought us closer than ever. It was an opportunity that made it easy for me to have a close study of the great man of history.
“Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN popularly known and called ‘Aketi’ emerged as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008 as 23rd President of the Association. Nigerian Bar Association has produced six (06) Chairman and thirty (30) Presidents to date. While Aketi hold forth as the President of the Bar, I was a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NBA as the Secretary of my branch. I was therefore a key player in the administration of Aketi’s presidency of the Bar.
“In 2018 when I became the Chairman of NBA Owo branch, it was not difficult for me to convince my colleagues that we should celebrate Aketi as an icon of note in the legal profession. Apart from being the Governor of Ondo State, it is on record that no senior lawyer of Owo extraction has made contributions to the branch more than Aketi. In the process, the first Annual Law week celebration of the branch was organized in honour of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN from 15th–19th July, 2019. Following my request as the chairman of the branch from Aketi that he should donate a Bar Centre to the branch on his name; he granted the request and build a palatial complex for the branch in 2021.
“As the chairman of the 2021 NBA–Owo Law Week Planning Committee, I have this to say in my address during the commissioning of the Bar Centre
“Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN is a great benefactor of NBA Owo Branch. Apart from his efforts at catapulting the branch to reckoning he has served and he is still serving as a great motivator and mentor to her members in no small measure. The magnificent edifice where this event is taking place and which has just been commissioned, was solely built and donated to the branch by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN. We are indeed grateful of this gesture. For us, we shall eternally remain indebted to Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
“In appreciation of Aketi’s gesture, NBA Owo branch dedicated a book titled “Contemporary Legal Issues and Good Governance in Nigeria” in his honour. This made the second publication that was published in honour of Akeredolu by the branch. The first publication was titled “NBA Owo Branch: A Decade of Active Bar Participation (2008–2018)”. The publications made in celebration of Aketi were honours made to appreciate his sterling contributions to the branch in addition to his appointment as the Grand Patron of the Branch.
“Mr. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN was not just celebrated by NBA Owo for the fun of it, he was celebrated because of his sterling and extraordinary contributions to the branch and humanity. In the preface to the book titled “NBA Owo Branch: A Decade of Active Bar Participation (2008–2018)” I had stated the following on behalf of the branch.
“Whatever may be the history of NBA Owo, especially that of its transformation from obscurity to limelight, in terms of participation in Bar activities; the role played by Mr. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN cannot be swept under the carpet. As a matter of fact, Akerdolu was the catalyst that fast tracked the oscillation and eventual transformation of NBA Owo to limelight”.
“Mr. Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN (now refer to as Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN is a man of destiny. He is an illustrious son of an illustrious family who had distinguished himself in the profession of law by dint of hard work and professional probity. He is an achiever and conqueror of whatever sphere he fixes his gaze. He is indeed a vault of legal wealth.
As the President of NBA, it was on record that Akeredolu was a thorn in the flesh of governments and authourities that acted utra vires their bound. As a vociferous leader with adequate dose of courage, he was not known to keeping mute where he needed to talk and roar.
Mr. Akeredolu was highly respected as a bar leader by both his colleagues and the masses. He acted in consonance with his campaign mantra as the President of the bar. Pursuing convictions with courage was the mantra of Akeredolu’s campaign for the President of the NBA. True to his words, he exhibited “courage” in pursing all his convictions”
As the peoples lawyer and voice of the masses, Aketi’s death is a great loss to all and sundry. As a Governor that made bold marks in all aspects of governance in Ondo State, Aketi’s death has caused an untold eclipse on good governance in the state.
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, the 23rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the immediate past Governor of Ondo State, my very dear Oga and mentor lived a courageous life time and courageously took his exit in a triumphant manner. May his noble soul continue to rest blissfully like a courageous mortal that he was.
Requiescat in pace