Akeredolu Enriched Governance With Candour And Courage
By Ojo Oyewamide
The late Ondo state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, was an unusual player on the nation’s political turf. The legal titan was reputed for his candour and courage. He exhibited these rare virtues till he joined the saints on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, after a fierce and prolonged battle with prostate cancer. Arakunrin Akeredolu was known for saying what he meant and meaning what he said. As a politician, he never ran with the hare and hunted with the hound. His position on any critical issue was always known and clear.
One of the greatest tests of Arakunrin Akeredolu’s courage was the opposition of the federal government to the formation of the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Operation Amotekun. The security initiative was a collective response of the southwest governors to the insecurity in the region that was then increasing at a worrisome rate. Operation Amotekun was lunched few months after its idea was muted.
However, a seemingly fierce storm raged against the security outfit shortly after its inauguration. It was declared illegal and unconstitutional by the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami. But Arakunrin Akeredolu vehemently defended the security initiative in his frank and courageous manner.
Mischief makers misinterpreted the former governor’s strong commitment to Amotekun to be drawing a battle line between himself and the federal government. Their insinuation was that his stance on Amotekun would make his reelection a tall order. But Arakunrin Akeredolu pointedly told them that the security of lives and properties was greater in value than his reelection. He elevated the safety of his people above his ambition to rule the state beyond February 23, 2021. Today, Amotekun is a pleasant reality and an enviable initiative.
Amotekun is not the first test of Arakunrin Akeredolu’s honesty and courage. One remarkable test came ahead of the 2016 gubernatorial election in the state. As the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he had taken his campaign train to Oda town. Oda is a community in Akure South Local Government Area of the state. The road from Akure, the state capital, to the community was deplorable and plying it was nightmarish.
Among the conditions of the community for voting for Arakunrin Akeredolu was a promise that he would construct the 8.0 kilometres road if he eventually became governor. He promised to look into their demands. But the then regent of Oda, Abike Akosile, wanted a commitment from him. She brought out a piece of paper and demanded that the then APC candidate sign an agreement with the community that he would construct the road. But he declined. There were those who felt Arakunrin Akeredolu should have signed the agreement even if he knew he would not fulfill the pledge. Their thinking was that his refusal could jeopardize his chances of winning the poll.
About three years after the incident, Arakunrin Akeredolu awarded the contract for the construction of the road. It is one of the on-going projects in the state. While flagging off the project, he told the regent why he refused to sign the agreement when he was seeking votes from the community. He said he didn’t know what he would meet if he became governor. What of if he signed the agreement out of desperation and later, his government could not afford to construct the road?
Such was the extent of Arakunrin Akeredolu’s honesty. He didn’t want to pave his way to the governor’s seat with empty promises. He didn’t want to fly to the Alagbaka Government House on the wings of lies and deceit. He knew his heart was pure and his quest to serve the state was noble. Everybody in the state knows that the late governor would never make a promise he would not fulfill and would fulfill any promise he made. And this earned him the Mr-talk-and-do soubriquet.
It takes moral courage for a politician to be honest given the fact that deception is an efficacious weapon of politics. Honesty is considered a virtue. But it seems disadvantageous most of the time. There have been many who fell victim to their candour. This is one thing about this ethical distinction that the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato, lamented when he submitted that “Honesty is for the most part less profitable than dishonesty.” Also in the words of the Roman Catholic nun and missionary, Mother Teresa, “Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.”
In Nigeria, politicians are not expected to call a spade a spade. They must call it by another name if they are desirous of winning electoral contests. You are not a good politician in this clime if you don’t know how to deploy deceit, deception and lies to have your way. But Arakunrin Akeredolu was different from the pack. His honesty and courage were products of his conscience. He realized his conscience was a bit of God in him. If you listen to your conscience, you listen to your God. That was why Arakunrin Akeredolu’s fidelity to his conscience was strong while he was still on this side.
God is the ultimate decider of man’s fate. Arakunrin Akeredolu wouldn’t have disembarked from the train of life at the time he did if God had not approved it. The new governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, wouldn’t have mounted the saddle if it had not been the will of God. No force can prevent you from becoming what you are fated to become. So, let’s take life easy. The dead always leave lessons behind for the living. Let’s draw out these lessons and guide our lives with them. One important lesson is that we should allow the reality of death to guide our actions.
May the soul of Aketi find a peaceful place in the bosom of the Lord Almighty. May God give Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa the required amount of strength and wisdom to handle the assignment that fate has thrown on his laps.
It shall continue to be well with Ondo state.
Ojo Oyewamide writes from No. 5 Abibiri Lane, Isolo, Akure.
