>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Betty Akeredolu, the widow of the late former governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has revealed that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, singlehandedly brought her late husbands remains back to Nigeria few days after his demise.
Mrs Akeredolu made this disclosure while addressing newsmen after President Bola Tinubu’s condolence visit to the family in Owo, the late governor’s hometown, on Wednesday.
Akeredolu’s wife, who thanked Tinubu and the Southern Governors for their contributions towards the burial of her late husband, described the president’s visit as a big deal.
She specifically thanked Sanwo-Olu for his contributions to the burial of the former governor.
“As you are aware, the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, paid his condolence visit to my family. Present at the visit are my children and extended family members.
“On behalf of my family, I appreciate Mr. President. We understood he couldn’t attend the burial ceremony due to the dictate of Yoruba culture. He couldn’t have attended the burial of his younger brother.
“Coming today (Wednesday ) is a big deal because we are in a better atmosphere. I also express my profound gratitude to the Southern Governors for their immense financial contributions to the burial. Most especially, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who singlehandedly brought Aketi’s remains back to Nigeria. We appreciate this huge show of love and we are grateful and forever indebted to him.
“I requested that Mr. President see where Aketi has been laid to rest and he followed me. We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for coming. He is indeed Aketi’s brother and friend.
“I told Mr. President, yes, Aketi has left but he lives because he left behind legacies. It is our wish that those legacies continue and are built upon where necessary,” she said.
Akeredolu, who was the chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, passed away in Germany on December 26, 2023, after a protracted illness. He was buried at his country home on on Friday, February 23, 2024.