Akeredolu at 70: Aiyedatiwa says late governor’s security vision shapes Nigeria’s future

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has said the late former governor of the state, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, laid the foundation for Nigeria’s evolving security architecture through his advocacy for State Police and decentralised policing.

Aiyedatiwa said Akeredolu’s push for a restructured security system had moved beyond regional advocacy to become a central issue in Nigeria’s national policy and constitutional discourse.

The governor spoke at a colloquium in Ibadan to commemorate Akeredolu’s 70th posthumous birthday, with the theme, “Fundamentals and Governance of State Policing: Towards a New Architecture for National Security in Nigeria.”

Describing Akeredolu, whom he fondly called “My Oga,” as a selfless public servant, Aiyedatiwa said the late governor’s legacy was defined by his courage, convictions and commitment to causes that served the public good.

He recalled Akeredolu’s service as Attorney-General of Ondo State, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, governor of Ondo State, chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum and chairman of the Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

According to him, Akeredolu combined intellectual rigour, legal scholarship and a commitment to justice, while his advocacy for true federalism went beyond rhetoric.

Aiyedatiwa recalled that when insecurity challenged public confidence, Akeredolu and other South-West governors responded by establishing the South-West Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun Corps.

He said the initiative demonstrated the importance of giving communities and authorities closer to the people a meaningful role in protecting lives and property.

The governor cited a recent operation in which the Ondo State Amotekun Corps reportedly joined the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army and other security agencies in confronting suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the state’s forests.

He said the operation underscored the importance of local knowledge, intelligence gathering and community participation in tackling insecurity.

According to Aiyedatiwa, the Amotekun initiative, which initially emerged in response to farmer-herder conflicts, had evolved into a broader regional security intervention.

He added that its experience had strengthened the argument for State Police and a security architecture better suited to Nigeria’s diverse security challenges.

Aiyedatiwa said President Bola Tinubu had demonstrated a commitment to moving the State Police proposal from public debate towards institutional reform.

However, he stressed that the establishment of State Police must be accompanied by credible recruitment, thorough vetting, professionalism and accountability to ensure public trust.

He said the most fitting tribute to Akeredolu would be a Nigeria that was safer, more federal, just and responsive to citizens’ needs.

Such a country, he added, would have a security system informed by grassroots realities, with intelligence gathered before threats escalated and communities actively involved in their protection.

The governor pledged to sustain Akeredolu’s legacy, noting that he had continued implementing projects initiated by his predecessor, particularly road projects discussed at Executive Council meetings.

He said Akeredolu had worked with the understanding that his successor would complete projects he could not finish during his tenure.

Abiodun seeks comprehensive police reforms

In his keynote address, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said Nigeria required an additional 554,353 police personnel to meet the United Nations-recommended police-to-citizen ratio.

Abiodun, who chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Committee on State Police, called for comprehensive reforms to ensure that decentralised policing was effective, sustainable and accountable.

He said the colloquium should move beyond commemorating Akeredolu’s life to addressing the reforms needed to strengthen security and governance.

According to him, Akeredolu understood that security was closely linked to economic development and also laid the groundwork for the South-West Development Commission.

“A secure region is a prosperous region,” Abiodun said, adding that Amotekun had demonstrated the value of community intelligence and rapid response in tackling security threats.

He said Akeredolu’s advocacy had helped build broader national support for State Police.

“The seeds Aketi sowed have matured into a national consensus,” Abiodun said, noting that all six geopolitical zones had recognised the need to reconsider the centralised policing structure.

Fayemi, Sanwo-Olu, Oyebanji pay tribute

Former Ekiti State Governor and former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, described Akeredolu as a courageous defender of the vulnerable who consistently spoke truth to power.

Fayemi said the late governor was a man of many parts who could relate with both the elite and ordinary citizens, combining seriousness in public affairs with a playful personality.

He recalled Akeredolu’s involvement in music and social activities, including singing in a choir, appearing at a Kegite shrine and dancing to songs by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Femi Kuti and Orlando Owoh.

According to Fayemi, Akeredolu’s political philosophy centred on the common good and the pursuit of policies that brought joy to the greatest number of people.

He also recalled Akeredolu’s role in the Southern Governors’ Forum, where he advocated the rotation of the presidency to the South despite political party differences.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the late governor as a courageous voice for the interests, dignity and security of the South-West.

Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Lagos State Secretary to the State Government, Salu Hundeyin, said Akeredolu viewed leadership as a responsibility rather than a privilege.

“Aketi may no longer be with us, but his example remains. His voice may have fallen, but the cause for which he stood continues to speak,” he said.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, also praised Akeredolu’s determination in confronting insecurity, saying his efforts contributed significantly to the establishment of Amotekun.

Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Habibat Omolara Adubiaro, said Akeredolu joined other South-West governors, across party lines, in challenging insecurity despite opposition from the Federal Government.

He urged governors in the region to deepen regional integration and called on the South-West Development Commission to pursue ambitious projects capable of transforming the region rather than limiting its interventions to small-scale initiatives.

The Director-General of the DAWN Commission, Seye Oyeleye, said Nigeria could no longer rely solely on a centralised police force controlled from Abuja, given the country’s population and security challenges.

Oyeleye said Amotekun had demonstrated the potential of state and regional policing to complement existing security arrangements.

Son recalls Akeredolu’s activism

Akeredolu’s first son, Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu Jr., described his father as a courageous advocate of justice, human rights, political freedom and accountable government.

He recalled his father’s involvement in student activism, his legal career, participation in the June 12 pro-democracy struggle, the 2012 fuel-price protest and his campaign against insecurity.

The speakers at the colloquium said Akeredolu’s advocacy for decentralised policing and stronger regional cooperation remained central to discussions about Nigeria’s security challenges and the future of its federal system.

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