By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The remains of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), late Governor of Ondo State, have arrived Nigeria from Germany where he died, thus laying to rest the unnecessary question about where he died.
Her Excellency Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, former First Lady and wife of late Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Middle, receiving the remains of her husband, after being brought out from the aircraft at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, December 5, 2024.
The DEFENDER recalls that Akeredolu died around 2am on Wednesday December 27, 2023 exactly three weeks after leaving for Germany on medical vacation. Some had said he died in Germany, some said he died in Lagos and others said they were unable to know his whereabouts
The 67-year-old state leader was survived by his 70-year-old wife and former First Lady, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu and children.
Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of the late legal luminary, was sighted weeping profusely as the remains of her husband arrived the country via the Murtala International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos about 3:40pm on Friday January 5, 2024.
On hand to receive the remains, apart from Anyanwu-Akeredolu, were his children, younger brother, Prof. Wole Akeredolu, and other family members.
After the Nigerian flag-wrapped casket was brought out from the aircraft, the wife of the late Governor leaned on it and wept.
According to close sources, he will be embalmed at a private morgue ahead of the funeral expected to be in the second week of February 2024.
Governor Akeredolu had transmitted power to his deputy, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who has since been sworn in as substabtive Governor of Ondo State.
Popularly called Aketi by his political allies, the former President of the of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) won his re-election as Ondo State governor in October 2020 and was sworn in for a second term of another four years in office in February 2021.
The governor had to be flown to Germany for treatment due to his medical condition in June, 2023 but later returned to Nigeria in September after months overseas.
Other photos from the arrival event below:
