The furore over the decision of the Ondo State Government to probe former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s death is quite unfortunate. The former governor who died December, 2023, was highly respected in his lifetime.
A thoroughbred professional lawyer, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and leader of the Southwest governors promoted the establishment of the Amotekun Corps for securing the region.
His passing might have been sudden, having died at age 68, but his accomplishment was monumental, thus deserving of the respect of all, especially his predecessors.
The position of the state government on the inquest made public last week by the state attorney-general, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, smacks of disrespect. He deserves his eternal rest and not the undue outcry that has attended plans to drag his name and death before the coroner, which might call for the corpse to be exhumed.
It is obvious that the latest plan by the Lucky Aiyedatiwa administration is prompted by the political division in the state. Despite the successor government being of the same political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the political scene is so poisoned that supporters of the two men do not see eye to eye. While it is said that there are no permanent friends in politics, decency, decorum and integrity should be the watchwords.
It is understandable that both factions of the party sponsored candidates during the primaries that preceded last year’s election; they ought to have sheathed the swords to enable the government settle down to the task of governance.
At a point, President Bola Tinubu was nearly drawn into the crisis, but for his maturity. Both the new governor and Arakunrin Akeredolu’s wife have remained implacable enemies as shown in the recent dispute over a memorial park in Owo town that the Aiyedatiwa administration decided had to be demolished. Mrs. Akeredolu was aghast, contending that it was an attempt at obliterating the legacies of her husband.
We call on the state government to realise that what the governor has is a tenured office. He has little time to tackle the challenges confronting the people of Ondo State. Poverty is still rife, unemployment, inflation and poor infrastructure, as is the case in other parts of the country, are issues the government was elected to provide solutions to. When much of the time is devoted to shadow chasing, very little would be achieved.
The governor should halt the move to order coroner’s inquest into the death since those said to be petitioners in this case remain anonymous. The family has not complained about the circumstances surrounding the last moments of their patriarch.
Akeredolu was a fighter in his lifetime. He fought and was victorious on the political terrain. In the courtroom, he was a giant and attained the enviable rank of Senior Advocate in 1998, and President of the NBA 10 years later. Rather than play the role of stoking the fire, we expect that the attorney-general who claims to have tremendous respect for the late governor, would erect a bridge between the two factions.
Dr Ajulo at the time of his appointment said he was not a politician and that he only took the office as a professional. He should advise the governor and his team to desist from toeing the path they have chosen. We are constrained to ask, why did the said petitioners wait so long before expressing their suspicion about the circumstances of the death?
While we cannot query their right to raise petitions on the matter, it should be noted that not everything legal is expedient.
Akeredolu lost the battle for life after a ravaging cancer refused to succumb to the best of medical and spiritual treatments. Now, let both his biological and political family allow him to rest in peace.
SOURCE: The Nation Editorial
