‘We’ll give him deserving funeral’ — south-west governors visit Akeredolu’s family

Governors from the south-west zone have paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Rotimi Akeredolu over the death of the former governor of Ondo.

The governors visited the bereaved family on Friday at the residence of the late Akeredolu in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

The governors were Ademola Adeleke of Osun; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun; Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti and Seyi Makinde of Oyo, who Bayo Lawal, his deputy, represented.

The governors took turns to sign the condolence register at the residence.

Speaking after the visit, Abiodun said the late Akeredolu championed the cause of a southern presidency in the buildup to the 2023 elections and worked for the cause.

The Ogun governor said the south-west governors would like to be part of Akeredolu’s burial arrangement, adding that a committee would be set up.

“We vividly recall the reinvigorated southern governors’ forum meeting in Delta state about two and a half years ago, where he championed the cause for the southern presidency to come from the south,” Abiodun said.

“He stayed committed to this cause and many others he successfully championed.

“We will set up a joint committee of the south-west states to work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo state to ensure that we give him a deserving funeral.”

On Wednesday, Akeredolu died of complications from a protracted prostate cancer.