There was more to Aketi's birthday on Saturday last week in Ondo as popular rumours have it that the legal practitioner could have been indirectly endorsed for the forthcoming governorship election by his political rival, Iroko.
Rotimi Akeredolu and Olusegun Mimiko
The 60th birthday party of All Progressives Congress chieftain, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN in Ondo State was a joyous event that attracted the presence of eminent Nigerians to the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrews, Imola Street; Owo where a brief Church service held at 10am on Saturday, the 23rd of July, 2016 to celebrate the national icon.
In wonderment, the executive Governor of Ondo State and People's Democratic Party leader, Olusegun Mimiko graced the event on invitation with a maximum coverage from the major media outfits in the Sunshine State purported to be partisan.
This has been described as a milestone in the history of politics in Nigeria considering the political differences shared by Akeredolu popularly known as 'Aketi' and Mimiko who is nicknamed 'Iroko'. Both politicians have taken membership with opposing political platforms.
Aketi and Iroko keenly participated in the Alagbaka Government House race in 2012 where Iroko emerged the winner. The two illustrious sons of Ondo have a long history of distant ideological differences that have seen Aketi offering differing views on the economic and political state of Ondo as managed by Iroko in the last 8 years.
A public revelation on Aketi's birthday was that great minds may possess different dogmas, philosophies and tenets that could be misinterpreted as enmity but in the real sense, the face-off that may result is a means to an end which is the satisfaction of the general will of the people; the sole existence of the state.
Mimiko grabbed the microphone on Aketi's birthday as he watched his political rival and ardent critic take his seat beside his beautiful wife of over 3 decades at the church alter and made a heart-rendering speech full of life and humour that in every way reeks of his respect for the legendary legal luminary.
Mimiko recounted his long history with Akeredolu during their days at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State in the 1970s when Akeredolu served as a Vice President of the Student Union Government while he, Mimiko was a member of the parliament - Student Union Representatives working as a 'positive collaborator' with the celebrant. According to Mimiko, they partnered in many struggles to make the lives of students better.
In some excerpts of the speech at the social gathering, Mimiko said:
" ..........We are not from the same party but I remember in 2007 when I contested (as governor of Ondo) under the Labour Party, it got to a point when things were literally rough - Aketi was one of those who offered his services to me. I remember that day at Wole Olanipekun Chambers. They even started writing my petition before I got there; himself, Wole and I think Femi Falana were there.
''I am very proud of his accomplishments. He has gotten to the height of his career as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He also had the privilege of being the Chief Law Officer of this State ( Ondo) and most importantly, he was a very progressive and respected President of the Nigerian Bar Association,'' Mimiko continued amidst a resounding round of applause from the audience.
He went on to aver that Aketi is a ''gentle and reliable man''. Mimiko also openly admitted that he wished Aketi was on the same side of the political divide with him.
"I wish we were on the same side of the political divide....I would have gone further to say 'OTHER THINGS' but we are before the Church of the Lord. My prayer for you Rotimi (Aketi) is that whatever is your desire that is accompanied with the will of God shall be brought to fruition'' Mimiko prayed.
Mimiko concluded by using the event to preach peaceful coexistence among political opponents as he said some words of prayers for the Nigerian nation.
There were tweets from Mimiko's official Twitter account @Segunmimiko in publicity of Aketi's birthday and other state-run media outfits like @OndoTv in celebration of their high-profile son aspiring to be the Governor of the State at the expiration of Mimiko's tenure this year, 2016.
A picture from the event featuring Mimiko, Aketi and others was also uploaded on the State's official website.
"Out of the abundance of a man's heart, the mouth speaketh'' is a golden biblical reference that corresponds with the unprecedented praises showered on Aketi by his political rival.
The public has begin to insinuate that the Chairman of the PDP Governors' forum, Mimiko technically endorsed Aketi for the 2016 gubernatorial race after having skirmishes in presenting a candidate, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) in Ondo who was widely rejected by his party.
As Ondo people brace up for the governorship election on the 26th of November, 2016, prying eyes have been focused on the inwardly ‘healthy relationship’ between Aketi and Mimiko despite the duo being at loggerheads in public space.