The Ondo State Government has declared Thursday, February 22 and Friday, February 23, as public holidays to honour the late former governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu, who died on December 27 in a German hospital during a protracted illness, is scheduled to be buried on Friday in Owo, his hometown.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in a statement on Tuesday, announced the public holidays.
He said the holidays would allow the people of the state to participate in the burial activities of the former governor.
“The Ondo State Governor, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has declared Thursday, 22nd and Friday, 23rd of February 2024 as public holidays in the state. This is in honour of the former Governor of the State, the late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON.
“The two work-free days will allow the people of the state to participate in the burial activities of the former governor,” he said.
According to the statement, the burial activities, which had started last Thursday, continue today (Wednesday) with Ajabue (traditional rites) Owo.
It also includes the special court session in Court 1, Ondo State High Court Headquarters, Akure while the lying-in-state and commendation service holds Akure Township Stadium. There will also be an evening of tributes at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo in the evening of Wednesday.
On Thursday, February 22 there will be a Service of Songs at the St Andrews Cathedral, Imola Street, Owo while a wake-Keep holds at Maranatha Villa, Owo. There would be a candlelight procession and world gyration by the Kegites Club at 8 pm till dawn
On Friday, February 23, the funeral service would hold at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo and the interment would follow immediately after the burial service at the burial site, Owo
On Saturday, there will be Akeredolu Memorial Friendly Football Match at the Akure Township Stadium, Akure while on Sunday, there will be a thanksgiving service at St Andrews Church, Imola Street, Owo.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a commendation service was held in Akeredolu’s honour at the All Saints Church, Jericho, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The funeral service had begun on Monday with two activities, including a Special Court session attended by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, among other legal luminaries in the country.
At the Tuesday event, the Bishop of the Ibadan North Diocese (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Williams Aladekugbe, described the late Akeredolu as a courageous and tenacious leader loved by his people.
The cleric said Akeredolu’s tenacity in the setting up of Amotekun security outfit could not be forgotten, as well as his impact as the governor of Ondo State.
He called on the government to address the sociopolitical challenges in the land in honour of the deceased governor.
He said: “We sincerely appeal to all tiers of government to urgently intervene in the skyrocketing prices of foodstuffs and other items in the country. There is no point hiding the fact that Nigerians are frustrated, hungry and angry. The hardship, insecurity, poverty and unemployment in the country are such that no one can pacify anybody. What we are now experiencing is not what the President promised Nigerians.”
The church service was attended by Governor Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, Olaide Adelami; former governors Kayode Fayemi and Donald Duke; former deputy governor Iyiola Oladokun; Chief Iyiola Omisore; Secretary to the Oyo State Government; Prof. Olanike Adeyemo; Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima; Speaker, Ondo Assembly, Olajide Oladiji; former ministers, Olorunimbe Mamora and Ademola Adegoroye; and Dr Oba Otudeko.
