The South-West Governors Forum, comprising leaders from the six states of the region—Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, and Ekiti—will join forces with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and the family of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to organize a dignified burial for the former governor.

The governors on Friday through Governor Dapo Abiodun who led three other South-West governors on a condolence visit to the family of late Governor Akeredolu at their Jericho, Ibadan residence said that the Forum has communicated the same to the family of the late governor.

The governors said that a joint committee will be set up to achieve the cause.

Other governors in attendance during the condolence visit include Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti and Oyo state deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was said to have missed the trip with the other governors due to flight delay.
The governors arrived at the Akeredolu’s residence at about 1:15 pm in a convoy of over 20 cars but journalists were barred from entering the room where the governors were received.

Addressing journalists in the company of the three other governors shortly after the visit to the family, Governor Abiodun said the late Governor Akeredolu would be sorely missed by all of his governor-colleagues, adding that the void he left behind would be difficult to fill.

“We are here to commiserate with the Akeredolu family and also the Ondo state government on the passing of our senior colleague and brother, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu who the Lord has called to his side.

“He was a senior advocate of law and a highly intelligent governor. He played a prominent role in ensuring that the Presidency returned to the South and he stood firm on his ground. He worked so hard. He is reliable and dependable and we all feel very hurt at his death.

“We as the governors of the Southwest have agreed that we will give him a befitting burial and we have people who will work with the family and government of Ondo state for a befitting funeral rites.

“Governor Akeredolu was the Chairman of the Southwestern Governor’s Forum, he was the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, a position that he held, he led very courageously, very fearlessly. He was a learned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a successful second term governor of Ondo state,” he said.

“Collectively, we will be partly, majorly responsible for the funeral rites according to him a farewell that he deserves. We have expressed that to the family, we will be setting up a joint committee of the Southwestern states to work with the family and collaborate with the government of Ondo state to ensure that we give him a deserving farewell.”