By Halimah Olamide
Former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu was on Friday buried in his Owo, Ondo State hometown.
To bid the former Governor farewell were top officials of the Nigerian government led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima, who was accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and others.
They were received by the Governor of Ondo State Lucky Ayedatiwa.
Shettima, speaking on behalf of President Tinubu described the late Akeredoluas as a ”remarkable soul and a dedicated individual who cared deeply about the welfare of his people.
”A man whose legacy is edged in the battles he fought on behalf of the people, leaving an indelible footprint on the shores of our shared history.”
”There was no point in life where his voice shook in telling his truth,” he said.
Akeredolu’s widow, Betty had read a moving tribute where she also expressed grief over the mockery she will face with her husband’s death.
“She went ahead in her tribute “You just left me, just like that. It hurts, badly it hurts. Now alone to face all manners of mockery.
” Not a few lashed out that you were a weakling because you loved me.
“A beg o! Can an Amotekun generalissimo be a weakling? Mbanuu! It doesn’t add up nau. Haba!
By the way, do they know what love is?
“I don’t think so. In their homes while growing up they saw their mothers trampled upon as doormats. Beaten up like punchbags.
“They copied the template and treated their wives as pieces of furniture that can be easily discarded as trash. And in many instances the subjugation was garnished with beatings while the community looked the other way and remained unperturbed as gender based violence reigned supreme nationwide.” She said in her tribute.
The town of Owo stood still as the former Governor was being buried on Friday.