By Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi

I have just returned from the funeral of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (a.k.a Arakunrin or Aketi) of Ondo State. There were several well-organised and massively attended ceremonies to mark the passing of this great man, the events started a week ago. The transition of Arakunrin did not come as a shock because he had been ailing for a while. It however did not make the news any less painful.

Arakunrin, or Aketi, as he was fondly called, was larger than life. An accomplished legal professional, a fearless politician, a selfless community leader, a devoted family man and a loyal friend, Governor Aketi lived a full and impactful life. Even though he was only 67, he managed to pack three lifetimes into one. My husband and I had a relationship with Arakunrin that transcended the usual ties you develop with political acquaintances who might or might not evolve into friends.

Arakunrin was a family friend and big brother to us. At a birthday luncheon for my husband in February 2020, Arakunrin described him as a true friend and a brother for all seasons. It is Arakunrin himself who was a friend and brother for all seasons and times. My husband and I attended the Service of Songs and Night of Tributes and the Commendation Service which both took place in Ibadan, as well as the Christian Wake in Owo, followed by the funeral service today. At all these events, the different constituencies that Arakunrin belonged to stepped forward to share their memories of him and the impact he made. The political networks, legal profession, church, school, community, family, all testified to the strong relationships Aketi built, grounded in humility, service, humour, generosity of spirit and courage. 

One of his many legacies will be the courageous way in which he rose to the occasion as Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum and subsequently Southern Governors Forum, to demand an end to the serious security challenges the South was facing.He became a sensation with his fearless speeches, often laced with humour with singing and dancing thrown in, but he never left anyone in doubt about how passionate and serious he was about the issues he was raising. He led the advocacy for aWesternNigeria Security Network known as Amotekun, which is operational in the six States of South West Nigeria. With his very colourful Amotekun uniform, he became known as the ‘Amotekun Generalissimo’, and it was heartwarming to see his famous Amotekun cap sitting alongside other paraphernalia placed on his coffin

Governor Aketi was also a Life Senior Fellow and Patron of the Kegites Club. During his time at the Kegites Club at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) Aketi was the ‘Songito’, the lead singer. He had left Ife long before I became a student and joined the Kegites Club, but his fame lived on. His younger brother Kola Akeredolu also had a great voice and was the ‘Songito’ of his set, and whenever we praised Kola’s singing, we would be told, ‘his older brother is even better’.

It was hard to believe that anyone could be better than Kola, so I always had this image in my mind of a great and talented man, and when I met Aketi senior years later, I was not disappointed. Our membership of and love for the Kegites club was a bond that we shared and which he took great pride in talking about at every opportunity. The Kegites Club organised a procession and gyration in his honour as part of the funeral activities in Owo, and I attended. In my address, I pointed out to the younger members that the Kegites club is not a place for hooligans and ruffians. It has produced Presidents, Governors, Professors and every kind of responsible citizen you can think of. I urged them to focus on leading a life of service and impact, whilst also recognizing the role older members can play to provide opportunities to pave the way for other generations.

I spent Thursday night at Owo, and I made sure I got to the church as early as 8.50am for the 10am service. I had no intention of battling my way into the church and have my nicely tied Gele crumpled into disarray. I was escorted to my seat and waited patiently for the service to begin. I looked around me and saw the familiar chaos at these kinds of events. The problem is hardly ever to do with a lack of seats. It is to do with a lack of discipline.  I thought about the funeral service for the late Queen Elizabeth and the coronation program for King Charles.

There was no disorder or confusion. There was no need for a variety of protocol and security officers to sit on seats in order to secure them for their principals. The organisers already knew who was coming and everyone, from the Presidents to the Kings and Queens, right down to the community workers who had been invited, all had designated seats. When you receive an invitation to an event, you are expected to confirm or decline, making use of the names and numbers under the RSVP. Not here in Nigeria.

The annoying thing is, when the main ‘Principals’ arrive, they come with other senior people in tow, who also expect to be seated close to their boss. What adds to the confusion is that even when the seats are tagged for principals and VIPs, they arrive late, and other principals who had not bothered to confirm their attendance and had no designated seats show up unannounced and the reserved seats have to be given up. As someone who had to oversee high profile ceremonies for eight years as First Lady of a State, I am very familiar with this problem.

All the predictable protocol drama aside, the funeral service for Arakunrin was a beautiful one. Like all the other ceremonies to celebrate his life, it was a coming together of all the things he stood for, and one can only hope that the lessons will continue to resonate. We all have a calling. We all have a responsibility to use whatever spaces we occupy to make an impact. We all have a voice, though some are admittedly louder than others. For those who belong to the elite class, there is an expectation that we will not be too comfortable to point out that a world that is unequal, unfair, unjust and insecure is one that is a danger to every single one of us.

Arakunrin was one of those rare people who managed to balance a range of dualities – powerful yet gentle, serious yet full of humour, intellectual yet pragmatic, brave yet humble – he should continue to be a case study in what is required to excel as a transformational leader. With the passing of Arakunrin, his work on earth has ended, but it should be the beginning for many more Arakunrins to come – public servants who will serve their people tirelessly and fearlessly. God-fearing citizens who will rise above all obstacles thrown in their way to leave an enduring legacy. My deepest condolences to his wife Arabinrin Betty Anyawu-Akeredolu, the children, grandchildren, siblings, other family members, his political family at home and abroad, and the government and people of Ondo State.

Arakunrin, rest in peace. As you have migrated to the great beyond, may your spirit walk and never stumble and may your calabash always be full. You will be forever Karid.

•Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Development Practitioner, Policy Advocate and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at [email protected]