Akeredolu at 70: Remembering a Trusted Leader

Today, 21 July, would have been the 70th birthday of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN, CON), the former Governor of Ondo State. Though he is not here to hear the praises that will fill social media and newspapers, we should honestly remember the man, his beliefs, and what he built, not just out of sentiment but as a record.

I first worked for him as the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations, and later as the Commissioner for Information. In both roles, he showed a trust that is rare in Nigerian politics. He did not just give me a job; he gave me his voice. He let me write his speeches and shape how people viewed his government and Ondo State, without forcing me to change his beliefs for convenience. In a political world where leaders often choose aides they can control rather than those they believe in, Akeredolu chose to trust. That choice was important then, and it is still important now.

A governor's journey. Akeredolu was born on 21 July, 1956, in Owo, to Reverend JO Ola Akeredolu and Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu. He went to Government School Owo, Aquinas College in Akure, Loyola College in Ibadan, and Comprehensive High School in Ayetoro. He later earned his Law degree from the University of Ife, now known as Obafemi Awolowo University. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978 and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 1998. He was Ondo State’s Attorney-General and later President of the Nigerian Bar Association. During his time, he did not hesitate to challenge the presidency about good governance. He earned the nickname “Mr Talk and Do” because he believed that a promise made to the public is a promise to keep. He refused to be called “Your Excellency” and preferred “Arakunrin,” which means brother. This was a clear way to show he wanted to stay close to the people he served.

Courage in leadership. As Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and among his fellow South-West governors, Akeredolu led the call for fairness in Nigeria. When insecurity grew in the South-West, he did not wait for Abuja’s approval to act. He brought his colleagues together to form Amotekun, the Western Nigeria Security Network, believing that people must take charge of their safety before demanding anything from the government. That was moral courage shown through action, not just words. He applied this same attitude to his daily work in areas like infrastructure, education, healthcare, and agriculture. His legacy is based on the belief that leadership should be judged by character, not just by praise. He held his decisions to that standard, and he held mine to that as well.

The man behind the title. He was also a man of humor and song. He always had a joke for almost any situation and could sense when there was tension in the room. He would often break into song during serious meetings, showing that seriousness and joy can coexist. When he noticed I was stressed about a job, he had a way of easing my tension with a joke or a knowing glance, understanding that fear leads to poor decisions while comfort allows for clear thinking. His comments on federalism, regional autonomy, and the dignity of the Yorùbá people in Nigeria are still quoted by those who never sat in his cabinet, showing he combined a lawyer’s sharpness with genuine charm.

On loyalty. I stand by my loyalty to this man, both in life and in death. It has become common in Nigerian talk to see loyalty as foolishness and betrayal as smart. I don’t agree with that. I believe “it is better to be hanged for loyalty than to be rewarded for betrayal.” Akeredolu trusted me completely; the least I can do is remember who he was and what he believed, without the usual caution that often comes with trying to be fair.

He passed away on 26 December, 2023, in Germany, after a long illness he initially fought privately and later publicly. Ondo State, the South-West, and Nigeria lost a man who, until his last breath, stood firmly by his beliefs. Today he would have turned 70, remembered by every aide he trusted and every policy he saw through, in this tribute from someone proud to have served him and who remains proud of that loyalty.