The Ondo State Government’s recent decision to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has ignited widespread uproar and condemnation across the state. The announcement came from the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, who revealed that his ministry had received multiple petitions from concerned individuals and groups both within and outside Ondo State, demanding a coroner’s inquest into the late governor’s demise.
Ajulo disclosed that the petitioners, whose identities remain undisclosed, suspect the involvement of Akeredolu’s widow, Betty, alongside others, in the circumstances leading to his death. This revelation has triggered sharp backlash from political figures, community leaders, and legal experts, many of whom have denounced the probe as ill-advised and potentially destabilizing.
Prince Ademola Adegoroye, a former Minister of State for Transportation, condemned the proposal to exhume Akeredolu’s body for further investigation, describing it as “unthinkable.” He cautioned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa against proceeding, emphasizing that “this is completely unnecessary and capable of throwing the state into avoidable turmoil.” Adegoroye urged the government to prioritize peace and honor the late governor’s memory, warning that the petitions appear to be the work of mischief-makers designed to discredit the current administration.
Similarly, Mr. Ajose Kudehinbu, a former Head of Service in Ondo State, expressed strong opposition to the probe, noting that no such investigation was considered during or after Akeredolu’s burial. He reiterated that the late governor, who died of prostate cancer in December 2023, was respected and that the executive power and responsibility to posterity rest solely with the sitting governor. “As indigenes and citizens, we have a collective duty to promote harmony and progress, not division,” Kudehinbu stressed.
Akure-based lawyer Sola Ajisafe also criticized the planned inquest, warning it could be perceived as “an assault on the memory” of Akeredolu and exacerbate tensions, especially in Owo, the late governor’s hometown. Ajisafe highlighted the complex political and cultural dynamics in Owo and cautioned that the Attorney-General’s reference to past controversies involving Betty Akeredolu, such as the demolition of the Owo Cenotaph, as justification for the probe was “dangerous and shortsighted.” He called on the government to exercise restraint, emphasizing that “the people of Ondo State deserve peace and unity, not suspicion and chaos.”
Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Nigerian Bar Association president, passed away in Germany in December 2023 after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. While his death was publicly attributed to health reasons, the renewed calls for investigation have stirred fresh speculation, casting a shadow over his legacy and the state’s political stability.
