Immediate Past Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed profound sadness at the death of the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
Dr Ikpeazu in a condolence message signed by his spokesperson, Onyebuchi Ememanka describes the death of Governor Akeredolu as a big shock and the loss of one of the most cosmopolitan Governors in the country.
According to Dr Ikpeazu, “Governor Akeredolu and I met regularly during the meetings of the Nigerian Governors Forum. He was a very cosmopolitan man with a nationalist outlook. He came into governance with a solid nationalist background having been previously elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association. He believed strongly in the unity of Nigeria. His wife is an Igbo woman from Owerri, Imo State. He was a brilliant lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose interventions in our meetings were always laced with beautiful submissions
“When Governors of Southern Nigerian extraction came together to push for a Southern President to take over from then President Buhari, Governor Akeredolu played a very important role in the advancement of that struggle. He will be sorely missed indeed”.
Dr. Ikpeazu recalls with deep nostalgia, the visit of Governor Akeredolu to Abia State some years ago where he advocated the oneness of our peoples.
Dr Ikpeazu prays the Almighty God to accept his soul, and comfort his wife and family, and indeed the entire people of Ondo State on this irreparable loss.
Also, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has accepted the award as ICON OF PEACE from the South East Peace Project being championed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu.
In a letter to the former Governor, signed by a Member of the Board of the Peace in South East Project, Chief Emeka Wogu, “the award is in recognition of your contribution towards peace and peaceful coexistence in the South East Geopolitical Zone of Nigeria and Nigeria as a whole”.
The award will formally be presented at the unveiling of the South East Peace Project on Friday, December 29th at Bende LGA Headquarters.
Dr Ikpeazu is humbled at this recognition, and and restates his avowed commitment to the pursuit of peace.
