Former Ondo State governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s widow Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has revealed that Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu single-handedly brought back her husband’s remains from Germany.
Mrs Akeredolu revealed this on Wednesday after President Bola Tinubu paid a condolence visit to her family in Ondo State.
She told journalists, “As you are aware, the President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, paid his condolence visit to my family. Present at the visit are my children and extended family members.
“On behalf of my family, I appreciate Mr. President. We understood he couldn’t attend the burial ceremony due to the dictate of Yoruba culture. He couldn’t have attended the burial of his younger brother.
“Coming today (Wednesday) is a big deal because we are in a better atmosphere. I also express my profound gratitude to the Southern Governors for their immense financial contributions to the burial. Most especially, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu, who single-handedly brought Aketi’s remains back to Nigeria. We appreciate this huge show of love and we are grateful and forever indebted to him.
“I requested that Mr. President see where Aketi has been laid to rest and he followed me. We are deeply grateful to Mr. President for coming. He is indeed, Aketi’s brother and friend.
“I told Mr. President, yes, Aketi has left but he lives because he left behind legacies. It is our wish that those legacies continue and are built upon where necessary.”
Akeredolu, 67, died on December 26, 2023 in Germany while being treated for prostate cancer. He was buried on February 23 in Owo.