Giving all praise and honor to God
(Eulogy for Rotimi Akeredolu)
By Olawale Fapohunda (SAN)
Your (Akeredolu’s) directive was that we should facilitate greater collaboration and cooperation between South West States in matters of Law and Justice. To achieve this in concrete terms, we established the South West Attorneys-General Forum. The first of such initiative in Nigeria.
We achieved consensus on the legal and institutional framework of the South West Security Network Agency (Amotekun). Amotekun has since gained national recognition. Not many of us get to live to see our own legacy play out in such a meaningful way. You did.
We achieved consensus on the legal framework for the proposed South West Development Commission. We presented a South West States consensus position on the review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
Under your watch, we united in reversing the scourge of all forms of violence against women in South West States. We agreed on harmonized Gender Based Violence (Prohibition) Laws.
You wanted us to go a lot further. You wanted us to achieve harmonized Laws of South West States of Nigeria with emphasis on our Criminal and Investment Laws.
You wanted us to remove legal and regulatory obstacles to doing business in South West States. You also wanted us to achieve uniformity in our jurisprudence. The compilation of decisions of High Courts of South West States is work in progress.
Our time ran out but thanks to you, those coming after us now have their marching orders.
On a personal note, you were always pushing me forward. Your confidence in my ability to deliver on assignments was a constant source of motivation. Though those years you never stopped providing wisdom and encouragement.
To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is not to die.
May God bless Oluwarotimi Akeredolu CFR, SAN. May God bless Ondo State, other South West States and this country he served so well.
* Olawale Fapohunda SAN is immediate past Attorney-General, Ekiti State and immediate Past Chairman, South West Attorneys-General Forum
* Fapohunda
