Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has expressed optimism that Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, would emerge victorious at the tribunal.
Oyetola is challenging the outcome of the July governorship election in which the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Ademola Adeleke, was declared winner.
Governor Akeredolu, who spoke in Owo at the funeral service of his late mother, Grace, said Governor Oyetola would “regain his mandate very soon whether you like it or not. He is a man after my heart.”
Akeredolu, in a response to a sermon delivered by Revd Stephen Ayodeji Fagbemi, said there were crops of politicians in the Southwest the people could be very proud of.
According to him: “We have listened to your political sermon. It was wonderful listening to the sermon. I will not contend with you but I know as politicians we are doing our best. It might not be good for everybody.
“You should also say the things we have done. Continue to pray for us so that we will do our best. We will look at it. It is not that we are not trying. We have our shortcomings. We have crops of politicians in the Southwest we can be very proud of. Not all of us shall die. We shall be here when Christ shall come.”
President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said the life of the mother of the Ondo State governor deserved celebration.
According to him: “Today is a day of great joy. We have reached where we must celebrate one the greatest legacies. It is a time to celebrate Mama because of the great deeds. The life of Grace Akeredolu is a life worthy of celebration. She lost her husband at the age of 50 and lived up to 90. She brought up her children. She made a great effort at raising four boys.
“She did very well indeed. We must thank God because not only did she bring up her children well but all of them are successful. What we must celebrate most is her service to God and mankind. We celebrate the life of a great woman, a woman who served God well and her community.”
Also speaking at the event, Tinubu congratulated Akeredolu and his family for celebrating the demise of the matriarch of the family.
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“We thank God for her life for the fact that she has the greatest legacy of a life that is full of achievements, joy and she passed on at a ripe age,” he said.
Tinubu, while speaking on the need to address the problems facing the country, urged Nigerians not to give up as he promised to do better if elected as next president of Nigeria.
“You cannot give up on us, we will do better. We promise you that to the glory of Mama and for her legacy, we will contribute to the improvement you might want anywhere around,” he promised.
In his response, Governor Akeredolu appreciated all the dignitaries for turning up for the funeral of his mother.
He urged religious leaders to continue to pray for public office holders in the county for them to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to people.
Governor Sanwo-Olu had earlier commiserated with his Ondo State counterpart on the death of his mother, urging Governor Akeredolu, family, friends and entire people of Owo and Ondo State in general to preserve the legacy of love and prayers left behind by the deceased.
Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, also urged members of the Christian community to immortalise the good name of the late nonagenarian and her service in God’s vineyard.
Late Grace Akeredolu died on September 15 in her sleep.
She was interred beside her husband in Owo, hometown of Governor Akeredolu.
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo; the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) on Saturday, attended the funeral service of Lady Evangelist Grace Akeredolu, the mother of the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
Other dignitaries at the funeral were APC National Secretary, Otunba Iyiola Omisore; former APC interim National Chairman and ex-Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande; former Governors Segun Mimiko (Ondo), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Donald Duke (Cross River), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and wife, Bisi, among others.