Governors from the South-West region on Friday visited the family of late Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to express their condolences.

The governors include Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo), represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal. 

Peoples Gazette learnt that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was already on his way while his colleagues arrived for the visit. 

Mr Makinde had earlier declared three days of mourning and ordered flags to fly at half-mast in honour of the late governor, who was, until his death, the chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum. 

The visit came barely a few hours after outgoing Kogi governor Yahaya Bello visited the deceased’s family at his Jericho private residence in Ibadan. 

Mr Bello, accompanied by the governor-elect, Ahmed Ododo, had described the demise of Mr Akeredolu as “tragic.”

Received by the deceased’s wife, Betty, the Kogi governor said Mr Akeredolu was not only a senior colleague but also a great statesman. 

Mr Bello, in a statement by his spokesman, Onogwu Mohammed, said Mr Akeredolu’s death resonates deeply with the people and the entire nation. 

“Your husband was not merely a senior governor-colleague but also a statesman whose sagacity and benevolent guidance significantly enriched our leadership, notably within the Governors Forum and the democratic institution in Nigeria,” Mr Bello said. 

The former Ondo governor died on Wednesday at a German hospital after a protracted battle with prostate cancer. He died at 67.