By Abiodun Raufu
As kidnappings spread southward, forests become increasingly unsafe, and communities across Southwestern Nigeria grapple with rising insecurity, it is difficult not to reflect on the leadership and courage of the late former Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, fondly called Aketi.
In moments like these, when the abduction of 39 students and seven teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State by Fulani terrorists has heightened tension and insecurity in Yorubaland, many residents of Southwestern Nigeria region cannot but miss Aketi. The Akeredolu that we all know would have galvanized the Southwest governors and leadership across party lines to begin to formulate policies and ideas to meet the existential threat posed by rampaging Fulani terrorists to the peace of Southwestern Nigeria.
Akeredolu was not just another governor. He was a fearless advocate of federalism, regional cooperation, constitutional rights, and the protection of Yorubaland. At a time when insecurity had become an existential threat to farmers, commuters, and rural communities across the Southwest, he stood tall and spoke with uncommon clarity. While others hesitated, Aketi acted.
The worsening security situation that engulfed Nigeria in the late 2010s had become particularly alarming in the Southwest. Kidnappers, armed herders, and criminal gangs increasingly occupied forests and highways. Citizens were afraid. Farmers abandoned their farms. Travelers dreaded interstate roads. Public confidence in the ability of conventional security agencies to adequately protect communities was waning.
It was under these circumstances that Akeredolu emerged as one of the strongest voices behind the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun. As Chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum, he played a pivotal role in mobilizing the governors of the six states to establish a regional security outfit capable of complementing existing federal security agencies.
The creation of Amotekun in 2020 was not without controversy. Critics questioned its legality, while others sought to frustrate its implementation. Yet Akeredolu remained steadfast. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, he deployed his legal expertise and political courage to defend the initiative. He repeatedly argued that the primary responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property and that communities have a right to organize lawful mechanisms to secure themselves.
His unwavering commitment eventually prevailed. Today, Amotekun has become an integral component of the security architecture of the Southwest. Its operatives have assisted in combating kidnapping, rescuing victims, gathering intelligence, and supporting conventional security agencies in protecting communities. What many initially dismissed has become a model that other regions have sought to emulate.
But perhaps Akeredolu’s greatest contribution was not merely the establishment of Amotekun. It was his insistence that leadership required courage. He demonstrated that elected officials must speak boldly when the interests of their people are threatened. He understood that silence in the face of danger amounts to abdication of responsibility.
Aketi was not perfect. No leader is. Yet he possessed qualities that are increasingly scarce in contemporary politics: conviction, candor, and the willingness to confront difficult issues regardless of whose interests were affected. Whether on restructuring, resource control, true federalism, or national security, he rarely equivocated. He said what he believed and stood by it.
Today, many citizens across Southwestern Nigeria worry that the security gains made in recent years are under pressure. Criminal elements continue to exploit forests and border communities. Farmers remain vulnerable. Rural residents increasingly feel abandoned. In such circumstances, memories of Akeredolu’s assertive leadership become even more poignant.
His death left a vacuum not only in Ondo State but throughout the Southwest. He was one of the few leaders who understood that security is the foundation upon which economic prosperity, social stability, and national development are built.
As the region confronts renewed security challenges, the best way to honor Aketi’s legacy is not merely to celebrate his memory but to preserve and strengthen the institutions he helped build. Amotekun must be adequately funded, professionally managed, and effectively integrated with other security agencies. Regional cooperation among the six Southwestern states must also be sustained and deepened.
History will remember Rotimi Akeredolu as a man who refused to watch his people suffer in silence. When fear gripped the land, he chose action. When others preferred caution, he embraced responsibility. And for many in the Southwest who continue to cherish peace and security, one sentiment remains deeply felt:
We miss Aketi.
Professor Abiodun Raufu, former Editor of Nigerian Tribune and ex-Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of National Mirror Newspapers, is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
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