Part of the past contributions of Rotimi Akeredolu to good governance in Ondo State in the 90s while serving as a commissioner in the South-western state has been dug out ahead of his election campaign.
Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN)
Former Ondo State Commissioner for Education in Ondo State, Princess Oladunni Odu, recently said the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) once saved one of the legacies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo from being sold.
Odu, who served alongside Akeredolu as commissioners under the regime of Navy Capt Anthony Onyearugbulem, said the Araromi-Obu Rubber plantation was almost sold off but for the dogged intervention of Akeredolu who was then the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state. She spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, where she and other members of Prof Ajayi Borrofice Campaign Group declared support for Akeredolu’s governorship ambition.
She expressed confidence that Akeredolu’s government would be very beneficiary especially to the masses. Relieving her experience as a commissioner during the military regime, Odu said:
“I have worked with him (Akeredolu) and I know he’s a bold man, a courageous man.
"He’s a man who can never sell the heritage of Ondo State.
“Back in 1998, we worked under the military, and late Onyarubulem wanted to sell off the Araromi rubber plantation, maybe you all know Araromi, it is a big investment of the Yorubas, he wanted to sell it off
“Rotimi got wind of it and called me and said we won’t allow it and before daybreak, he had already leaked the story to the Tribune Newspaper and they published it."
"The second day, the administrator was embarrassed, he called for an emergency meeting and asked: Mrs Odu, what is this?"
“I said your Excellency, I didn’t know what you are talking about, when he asked Rotimi, Rotimi stood up and said your Excellency, this is Yoruba’s legacy, this is Awolowo’s legacy, we will not sit down here as Yoruba people and allow this legacy to be sold off .
“When the administrator asked questions around the council, all of us spoke with one voice that we will not allow the legacy of Awolowo to be sold off. Because, Rotimi said, his children would ask him questions if the legacy was sold off. That, is the kind of person Akeredolu is, he is a very bold person.
"He will say what he meant and how he meant it without mincing words, and I feel, if we support him to become the governor, we will have no regret as the sun will shine again in Ondo State”.