The death of the late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, was a deeply painful event. Accepting the finality of death is incredibly challenging. Aketi was not just a Governor; he was an exceptional leader. Since his demise, we have read and heard various narratives from different sources.
Just yesterday, my former Lecturer, Mr. Sunday Afolayan, wrote an article titled “Aketi And The Significance Of Posterity,” wherein he attempted to distort facts and twist the truth. Although Aketi is no longer with us, we will not allow his hard work and legacy to be undermined in any way. Mr. Sunday Afolayan was one of my favorite lecturers during my time at RUGIPO for both my OND and HND studies. He was an excellent teacher, and I believe he still is. Together with Alhaji Abubakri and the late Alhaji Jide Salami, Mrs. Adedowole, and others, they could transform underperforming students into “A” students. I graduated with a distinction in Mass Communication (HND) from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, and Mr. Afolayan played a significant role in my success.
However, his recent piece about my late principal was distasteful. Mr. Afolayan taught us the importance of factual reporting in News Writing and Reporting. He emphasised that “Facts are sacred!” and that when in doubt, you leave it out. Unfortunately, these fundamental rules of journalism were absent in the piece written by my former lecturer, who was part of those that laid my journalism foundation. Hence, this is a difficult task for me. Nevertheless, I must undertake it for the sake of posterity and to uphold the legacy of my late boss, Aketi.
In his article, Mr. Afolayan presented various points to establish a narrative suggesting that the late Governor had shortcomings. It is true that no man is perfect, as no one on Earth is a superhuman. Even the greatest leaders worldwide have their flaws. However, the issues raised in Mr. Afolayan’s piece relied mostly on speculation, unverified information, hearsay, and political blackmail.
i. Mr. Afolayan stated, “Aketi himself had penchant for believing that apart from the governor and his family, no other person matters in the state; not even the traditional rulers, religious leaders or any other person, no matter how highly placed. Aketi would dress them down and feel no remorse for it. Nobody does that without sinking in the voyage.”
I am certain that Mr. Afolayan did not personally interact with the late Governor all through his lifetime. I am convinced that his conclusion must have been based on hearsay. The truth is that Aketi was nothing like the character portrayed by the writer. Mr. Afolayan seemed to have forgotten that Aketi would prostrate flat on his stomach before traditional rulers. The Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, and others in the state would bear witness. Aketi told traditional rulers to stop standing up whenever he arrived at an occasion. He treated them with reverence, respect, and dignity.
I am also confident that religious leaders in the state can attest to the late Governor’s humility and respect. He showed immense respect and honoured every religious leader, regardless of their faith. I worked with him for six out of the seven years he served as Governor. I was his Special Assistant (New Media), spokesperson for his re-election campaign, and later his Chief Press Secretary, and he never dressed me down for once. Yes, he was a tough man, but he would never speak down to anyone. Once he expressed his observations, he moved on. Beneath his tough look, he had a kind and respectful heart. Aketi never faltered in his endeavours.
ii. Mr. Afolayan claimed, “Aketi was good, but too hard to bend. No matter whose ox is gored, Aketi will never yield to a contrary opinion.”
Undoubtedly, Aketi was firm in his convictions. However, the claim that he never entertained contrary opinions is far from the truth. All one needed was a genuine and honest argument, and Aketi would be open to it. He did not believe in hasty actions and was meticulous in his decision-making. Contrary to Mr. Afolayan’s assertion, Aketi enjoyed listening to everyone. His ability to listen was one of his greatest leadership qualities. As for me, he accepted many of my opinions regarding media matters. I know some cabinet members who could boast about having his ear. They knew that to sway him, they had to present genuine and honest arguments. Mr. Afolayan failed to question and investigate this claim before presenting it publicly. Yes, Aketi was firm, but he was also receptive to contrary opinions. He was not a dictator who dismissed opposing views without consideration.
Aketi believed in teamwork and collaboration. He valued the opinions of his team members and encouraged robust discussions during cabinet meetings. He recognised that diverse perspectives lead to better decision-making. I witnessed firsthand how he engaged with people, sought their input, and made collective decisions. Aketi was not an autocrat; he was a leader who valued collaboration and collective wisdom. Aketi was a highly intelligent individual, but he did not undermine the intelligence of others. On the contrary, he encouraged intellectual discussions and valued the expertise of those around him.
iii. According to Mr. Afolayan, “The first (mistake) was the total withdrawal of the free shuttle buses Mimiko provided in all major towns in the state during his days as governor to help ameliorate the suffering of school pupils.
The truth remains constant, regardless of any attempts at blackmail, lies, and misinformation. There have been rebuttals on this topic, particularly from the state government. However, it appears that Mr. Afolayan has chosen to adopt a narrative that suits his own agenda.
The claim that the free shuttle buses were withdrawn and taken to Imo State for the former First Lady’s senatorial campaign is false, misleading, and wicked. Let’s set the record straight. These buses were operational until 2019 when the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world. Due to safety protocols to prevent the spread of the virus, the state government decided to suspend the scheme. The reason behind this decision was the young students’ lack of understanding of the gravity and seriousness of the virus. Since it was an infectious disease, the Aketi-led government couldn’t risk exposing the young students to it.
The economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the government from immediately resuming the shuttle bus service. As the economy worsened, paying salaries became an enormous challenge. The government resorted to paying salaries in percentages, with workers receiving only 50% or less of their monthly wages. The funds from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) reached an all-time low, while the price of diesel skyrocketed. Sustaining the operation of these buses became increasingly difficult. Nonetheless, the government explored alternative solutions, including the possibility of changing the buses from diesel engines to petrol engines (PMS).
After careful consideration, it was discovered that the cost of changing the engines was almost the same as buying new buses, which proved to be financially unfeasible for the government. Throughout this time, the buses remained parked at the Ministry of Transportation premises under the custody of Mr. Tobi Ogunleye, Esq. Not a single bus was taken to Imo State. Hence, there is no visual evidence available to support the claim that any of these buses were sighted in Imo State. It is clear that this was a politically motivated smear campaign orchestrated by mischievous politicians, and Mr. Afolayan has merely amplified this false narrative.
iii. Mr. Afolayan claimed, “Even the teaching service got its bitter dose of his administration as no single teacher was employed throughout his tenure, leaving most schools to suffer for lack of teachers.”
It is a matter of record that the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, employed over 1,000 teachers in the state. Their employment letters were signed and released on March 12, 2021. The recruitment of teachers by the Akeredolu administration came after a gap of over 13 years since the last recruitment of teachers during the Adefarati administration. These teachers have since been integrated into the education system and are serving in various schools across the state. Mr. Afolayan, as a writer and teacher should understand that fact-checking is an essential responsibility. His claim that no teacher was employed under Aketi’s administration is a blatant falsehood. With due respect, sir.
iv. Lastly, Mr. Afolayan stated, “The first mistake was his inability to control the obvious excesses of his immediate family.”
This conclusion that the late Governor failed to rein in the excesses of his immediate family is both preposterous and absurd. Such a claim would only hold weight if specific instances were provided. It is widely known that governance is a serious matter, and Aketi did not take governance as a joke. There was no interference from any member of his immediate family in the business of governance. It was not until his second term that his son, Babajide Akeredolu, was appointed as the Director-General of PPIMU. Prior to that, no member of his family was part of the State Executive Council, where important decisions concerning the state were made.
The various narratives concerning Babajide and the former First Lady, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, originated from political blackmail. There was a young man who consistently attacked Babajide on social media until they met in person, after which his perception of the late Governor’s son changed. Mama Betty is a highly resourceful woman who shares her late husband’s traits of courage and honesty. Like Aketi, she speaks her mind without fear, regardless of the consequences. The claim that the late Governor failed to control the excesses of his immediate family is a tired tale in the political arena. It is a narrative designed to blackmail the former first family.
Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has passed away. But he left behind a legacy that cannot be rewritten. He made significant contributions and left an indelible mark in the sands of time. It is our duty not to remain passive but to defend his legacy.
Let’s respect the dead and refrain from rewriting their legacies. BEYOND THE SILENT GRAVE, the dead still deserve our respect and honour.
Richard Olatunde is the former spokesperson to the late Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON.
