I’m still yet to come to terms that my beloved egbon mi, a man of courage and conviction, a quintessential lawyer, a Bar man per excellence, a truly detribalised Nigerian and a man of the people, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON is no more ! “Where, O death is thy your sting ?”
Aketi and I had come a long way. I knew him from a distance and started admiring him sometime in 1987 when Alao Aka-Bashorun became the President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Aketi was the Publicity Secretary at that time. It was during Aka’s era that Aketi’s radical and progressive inclinations started manifesting. Aka was very fond of Aketi and would always call Aketi’s name in full -‘Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu’! That era remains the best in the history of the Nigerian Bar Association-an era when the Government though Military was held accountable for its actions and truth was courageously spoken to power! Most importantly internal democracy was upheld in the running of the Association. Not anymore !
Our paths crossed again when Aketi ran for the NBA Presidency in 2008. He sought for my support which I freely gave him and was gearing to join him in the nationwide campaign when Egbe Amofin got the only challenger for the Presidential slot from the Western part of Nigeria, Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN to step down for Aketi. Upon his assumption of office in 2008 Aketi entrusted me with few responsibilities as he believed that I would represent the Bar well. He nominated me as a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NBA, a member of Body of Benchers and a member of the Appeal Committee of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee. Aketi’s era as NBA President was somehow a replica of Alao Aka-Bashorun’s era. The best organised NBA Annual General Conference in recent memory was the 2009 AGC held in Lagos. The chairperson for that historic conference was our iconic and no-nonsense Funke Adekoya, SAN. It was a conference in which every delegate went home satisfied with its intellectual contents and takeaways. Aketi ensured that the Government of the day was held accountable for its actions and inactions leading to some people accusing him of being pro-ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria)! As a member of NBA NEC, I recall one of the courageous motions we adopted at our NEC meetings. I recall the motion I moved at Port Harcourt NEC meeting condemning the lopsided appointment of justices of the Court of Appeal by the National Judicial Council. South East, South South and South West were short changed in the proposed appointment exercise. Upon adoption of the resolution with a strongly worded covering letter addressed to the NJC, the appointment process was immediately cancelled and the exercise began de novo leading to a balanced judicial appointment exercise with judges of high intellect and integrity appointed.
At the end of his remarkable tenure as NBA President Aketi returned to his private practice and few months later entered into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. He ran for the office of Governor of Ondo State in 2011 as ACN candidate against Governor Mimiko of PDP but didn’t make it. Back to his legal practice at Ibadan, the Anambra Governorship election took place in November 2013 where my elder brother, Senator (Dr) Chris Ngige contested as the candidate of APC with Mr Willy Obiano of APGA being declared winner by INEC. For the litigation I consulted with Aketi and he willingly took the brief to lead me in the election petition we filed challenging the outcome of the election. Aketi took the brief pro bono. In addition he brought the veteran election petition guru from Ibadan, Mr Michael Folorunsho Lana to join in the petitioners attack team. We fought the case all the way from the Election Petition Tribunal sitting t Awka and chaired by Hon Justice Ishaq Bello to the Supreme Court of Nigeria presided over Hon Justice Mahmud Mohammed where the election of Governor Obiano was affirmed.
Aketi thereafter retuned to the drawing board to prepare for the Ondo Governorship Election of 2016 in which he later emerged victorious and was sworn in as the 6th Civilian Governor of Ondo State.
Aketi represented the Bar and the masses very well as Governor. The creation of Amotekun in the bid to fight insecurity in South Western part of the country remained one of the indelible achievements of Aketi as Governor. Aketi also fought courageously for a Southern President to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari. The first flyover bridge in Ondo State constructed at Ore was another remarkable achievement of Aketi among so many others. Illness would not allow him realise his dreams for Ondo State at the tail end of his first term. I had earlier discussed with him on the importance of tapping on the rich bitumen deposits in the State to enhance the revenue earning capacity of Ondo State.This dream was not realised before his death.
Aketi was a kind man to the core. I recall how he would send his drivers and security men to pick my daughter, then a student of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) from Akure Airport to ABUAD and vice versa. My family will sorely miss him.
May I use this opportunity to offer my sincere condolences to the Akeredolu family, the good people of Ondo State, the NBA and in particular my own dear sister, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (Ada Owerri) on this sad loss. Our consolation is that Aketi’s legacies will continue to live on. His memories by the Special Grace of God will continue to be a source of inspiration to generations yet unborn.
May God Almighty in His Infinite Mercies grant his gentle soul eternal rest ! Amen
- Ngige is a senior advocate of Nigeria