Biography of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN)

Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN was born on 21st of July 1956 in Owo to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of the Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State.
 

Akeredolu started his primary education at Government School, Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola College, Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively. He attended the Loyola College in Ibadan before he proceeded to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Law, graduating in 1977.

 

In the University of Ile-Ife, his outstanding leadership capabilities soon came into fore spurring him to engage in the politics and governace of the student union at that time. He was elected as the vice-president of the student union, University of Ile-Ife in the 1975/1976 academic session. 

 

Upon graduation, he was called to the Nigerian Bar 1978 where he meritoriously served the Nigerian Bar Association in various capacities at both the state and national levels. The record of his immense service spans almost three decades. Aketi was the secretary general of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan branch from 1985 to 1986. He has been a member of the National Executive Council of the NBA from 1985 till date.
 

He served as the publicity secretary during the regime of late Alao-Aka Bashorun. A period considered as the golden era of the bar (1988 till 1989). He was also a member of the legal aid council from 1989 till 1991. He became the vice-chairman of the Ibadan branch in 1991 and subsequently, the chairman between 1992 and 1994. He first became a member of the body of benchers at the same time (1997 till 1999) and was subsequently re-appointed in 2006. He remains a member till date.

Aketi, as he is fondly called, was appointed Attorney General of Ondo State from 1997–1999. In 1998, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He embarked on far-reaching reforms as the state's Attorney General. Some of his achievements are still visible in the state judiciary till date.
He was Chairman of the Legal Aid Council (2005–2006).
Aketi was conferred the prestigious title of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria in the year 1998.
Perhaps, what stands out as the highest point of achievement at the bar was his election, unopposed as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association.
 

Aketi forced himself to the consciousness of the entire country and beyond through what has become his trademark; unyielding opposition to bad governance. He was a member of the governing council, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies between 2008 and 2010, a member of council of legal education, a member of council, International Bar Association and Pan African Lawyers Union during the same period.

He currently serves as NBA representative in the National Judicial council. A devout christian, he is the chancellor of the Anglican church, Owo diocese.
 

Aketi is a recipient of myriads of awards including the Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association Merit Award, 1995; The NBA award of recognition on the conferment of the SAN title in 1998; Loyola College Old Boys Association Merit Award, 1995; Sportwriters' association  Merit Award as a legal adviser, 1995; the Sportwriters' association Merit Award as a patron, 1998 and the Qatari bar assocation award among other numerous awards.

In a lecture in December 2009, Akeredolu said no amount of electoral reform or judicial system could give Nigeria free and fair elections, if Nigerians themselves refused to take practical steps to ensure that their votes count.
In 2012, the Nigerian Bar Association named its new secretariat in Abuja after him with its president citing the reason being the need for "generational identification and recognition of those who had contributed immensely to the development of the association.

Read: Biography of Engineer Oluseyi Makinde
 

In an undying quest to serve his fatherland, he initially entered into the governorship race in Ondo state under the flagbearership of the then Action congress of Nigeria now nomenclatized as the All Progressive Congress in the year 2013.
Due to his tenaciuos and selfless nature, he again entered into the gubernatorial race for the second time in the year 2016 under the flagbearership of the All Progressive Congress and on Sunday 27 November 2016 he was announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the Ondo State governorship race.  He was sworn in as the governor of Ondo State on 24 February 2017 in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.

He married Betty Chioma Anyanwu Akeredolu of Emeabiam Owerri west local government. The marriage blessed is with four successful kids all making their marks in different facets of life.

Meet the Past Governors of Ondo State Since Inception

Ita David Ikpeme     Governor     1976-03     1978-07     Military     
Sunday Tuoyo     Governor     1978-07     1979-10     Military     
Michael Adekunle Ajasin     Governor     1979-10     1983-12     UPN     
Michael Bamidele Otiko     Governor     1984-01     1985-09     Military     
Michael Okhai Akhigbe     Governor     1985-09     1986-08     Military     
Ekundayo Opaleye     Governor     1986-08     1987-12     Military     
Raji Alagbe Rasaki     Governor     1987-12-17     1988-07     Military     Transfer from Ogun State, afterwards transferred to Lagos State.
Bode George     Governor     1988-07     1990-09     Military     
Sunday Abiodun Olukoya     Governor     1990-09     1992-01     Military     
Bamidele Olumilua     Governor     1992-01     1993-11     SDP     
Mike Torey     Administrator     1993-12     1994-09     Military     
Ahmed Usman     Administrator     1994-09     1996-08     Military     
Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem     Administrator     22 August 1996     7 August 1998     Military     
Moses Fasanya     Administrator     1998-08     1999-05     Military     
Adebayo Adefarati     Governor     1999-05     2003-05     AD     
Olusegun Agagu     Governor     2003-05     2009-02     PDP     
Olusegun Mimiko     Governor     2009-02     2017-02     Labour     
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu     Governor     2017-02     Incumbent     APC

A Brief History of the Ilaje People of Ondo State

A People of Ondo State who are very rich in history, fact, and culture among other things, the Ilaje's are a distinguished, distinct linguistic group of the Yoruba stalk made up of four geo-political entities namely Ugbo Mahin Etikan and Aheri.

Geography

Ilaje land is bounded by the Ijebus to the West, the Ikale to the North, the Itsekiri to the East. The APOI and Arogbo Ijaw to the North East, while the Atlantic ocean formed the southern boundary. No doubt, the Ilajes are one of the most dynamic and enterprising people in Nigeria. Their aquatic skill, coupled with their high adaptational ability enables them to conquer the harsh geographical environment and turn it to a big advantage.

Consequently, we were able to build large communities like Ugbonla, Aiyetoro, Zion PePe and Orioke. Aiyetoro for example in it's hey-days had the highest per capital income in the whole of Africa and attracted visitors, tourists and researchers from all over the world especially Europe, Canada, and America.

Ilajes can also be found in cohesive diasporic communities in Douala (Cameroon), Sapele/Warri (Delta), Asejire (Oyo) and parts of Lagos State. According to the 2006 census statistics, we have a population of about 290,615 people.

Igbokoda, the Ilaje local government headquarters is fast becoming an international trade center as it popular market attracts traders not only from other part of Nigeria, but, also from other African countries especially Togo Benin, Ghana, Cameroon and Gabon

.

The Origin of Ilaje

The Ilaje people were said to have left ILE-IFE our original ancestral home/settlement in the 10th century. We mainly occupy the Atlantic coastline of Ondo State of Nigeria while a large population of them settles on land in the hinterland. The area we occupy today remains the Ondo State of Nigeria only outlet to the sea.

According to the dethroned Olugbo Oba Mafimisebi "we were the aboriginal Yoruba that was displaced from Ife". He and Oba of Benin agreed up to this point. Olugbo claimed this is why Ugbo and Benin have similar chieftaincy titles: Lema, Ashogbon, Oliha, Ojomo, Yasere among others. They were the Obalufon, Obamakin, Obalufe, Obawinrin, etc whose Yoruba language were originally spoken, including the lingua fraca in Benin palace.

According to Ben Omowafola Tomoloju, popularly known as 'Pappy Ben', a culture activist, author of books and the Aremo Onipopo of Ilaje Land, the Ilajes were members of the ancient communities that existed in Ile-Ife before the advent of Oduduwa in the the 10th century A.D. Upon the arrival of Oduduwa in Ife, he seized power from the incumbent ruler and assumed monarchical authority over the land.

Tomoloju said: "The ancestors of the Ilajes detested the Oduduwa take-over and, therefore, migrated through the forest of Oke Mafunrangan to a place near Esinmirin River from where they invaded Ile-Ife over a long period, carting away spoils and capturing slaves". This invasion was what motivated the legendary Ife Queen, Moremi, to embark on a heroic espionage quest that led to the eventual defeat of the marauding aborigines.

The coastal town, Ugbo, under the paramount ruler, Olugbo, is a major settlement of the protesting migrants. Its full meaning is 'Mo r'ubo gbo ni.' (I have a place to stay.) Ugbo is primary setting in the Moremi legend, which people sometimes mistake for Igboland in South-eastern Nigeria.

"Another major town, Mahin, comes under the paramount rulership of the Amapetu. Ugbo, Mahin and other towns like Atijere, Obe-Nla and Igbo-Egunrin reflect a degree of cultural mix which suggest some form of historical kinship between the Ilaje, Itsekiri and the Edo.

PRIMARY OCCUPATION

Being riverine by nature, our primary occupation is fishing. An average Ilaje person knows which fish is gotten from the fresh water and which fish is gotten from the salt water. There are also seasons when the water in the Lagoon turns to salt water, this is between April and July, when we have heavy rainfall. despite fishing across several villages at a time, there is no occasion where any Ilaje fisherman loses his way on the high sea. This, he said is due to the fact that, when you are on the sea, there is a way you picture yourself and there are landmarks you will identify to tell you the distance from home.

The weather condition, the direction of the wind, the position of the sun by day and the position of the moon by night, all contribute to forming part of your compass and a forewarning for straying off the normal route. A very few of the Ilaje, who live outside the water, known as the Ilaje Igbo (that is, Ilaje on land) try their hands on farming, but some people jocularly state that, nature never conferred farming on them but fishing, as a result they have not been able to produce beyond subsistence level as the lands are said not to be fertile enough for agriculture. So, they majorly depend on the Ikale and Apoi people for enough farm produce. Another occupation of ours is timber logging. Though the wood logging occupation in Ilaje land suffers some kind of setback due majorly to the absence of a sawmill, we still manage to use our canoe to ferry the woods to Igbekun, a neighbouring towns in the hinterland.

The pre-colonial ilajes were also salt miners due to our closeness to the Atlantic ocean which contains a lot of salt water.

.

RELIGION

.

The advent of the white missionaries saw the Ilajes embracing Christianity with full force, with a slight majority of the Christians among them worshipping with the Cherubim and Seraphim Church of Zion, which has its headquarters in Ugbo Nla. There are also considerable amount of Anglican and Jehovah witness worshippers.

Festivities in Ilaje Land

Though the Ilaje are scattered in various places along the coastal lines, at various times of the year, they all returnto their home base in Ondo to celebrate some of their festivals, which include: masquerading (the Umale festival), Malokun (a fertility festival for the goddess of the sea), regatta and periodically, the Epo (Raffia-costumed masquerade), which was used to scare the people of Ife before the Moremi saga.

During these celebrations, there is the uniquely polyphonic renditions of both the Biripo traditional music and the Ilaje spirituals of the Zion Christian sect. They are particularly soul-lifting and you find a lot of upland Yoruba musicians trying to imitate these in their compositions. In a typical ilaje marriage ceremony where the bride comes from Ilaje, a court of young girls from the bride's place are selected to entertain their guests with the traditional biripo dance where the make use of obele(paddlestick) to demonstrate their dance act.

.

MONOARCHIAL SYSTEM

.

Ugbo is the major town in Ilaje land and is under the paramount ruler known as the OLU-UGBO of ugbo.

Beside ugbo, there are three other major clans,These include Mahin, Aheri and Etikan. Aheri is presided over by the Maporure and Etikan is headed by the Onikan of Etikan while Ugbo is headed by the Amapetu of Mahin.

DRESSING CULTURE of Ilaje Land

Being migrants from Yoruba land, it would be surprising to know that the core Ilaje traditional dress code borrows from outside the Yoruba tribe. The Ilaje traditional mode of dressing is of the semblance of the Itsekiris or Urhobos with slight modifications. The men dress in wrapper with a buba top and a hat with feather stuck in one part of the hat, while the women dress in blouse and wrapper. But, in the past few decades, most Ilaje have embraced the conventional Yoruba mode of dressing, except on special occasions.

.

FOOD CULTURE

.

Though the presence of fish is emphasised in all the foods, there are special kinds of foods prepared. These foods are peculiar only to the Ilaje. They include the Pupuru and Obe Marugbo. The Pupuru is made from cassava, and prepared in a similar process as fufu, it also has a similar taste with fufu. The Obe Marugbo is cooked with a special type of vegetable that is grounded. The colour of the Obe Marugbo is dark green( I usually term it black soup..lol). There is the mashed yam and unnripe plantain prepared with palm oil(ogolale) and we also have what is called the Igbanyeghe, boiled corn with fish and palm oil added to some other Ilaje food condiments.

NATURAL RESOURCES

.

Apart from petroleum which is largely found in the area for which Ondo State today is recognized as an oil producing State. Other mineral raw materials that are abundantly available in Ilajeland include Glass Sand, Salt, Tar Sand, Quartz and Clay while Agro raw materials include fish, poultry, maize, Palm oil vegetables, Timber, Rafia, Poultry Okro, Cocoyam, Banana, Cassava, and Piggery

And Lastly, the ilajes are highly accommodating and friendly. If u measure the hostility of an the scale of 1-100 on hostility he would score 0.95%.

If you want to call the ilajes in a gathering to an attention just scream AYEMAFUGE de de ilaje oh...the response you get aftermath is AWAYE oh!!!!

Full List of Akure Post Codes and Zip Codes

Urban Locations

Alagbaka

Postcode => 340223
The Postcode include Ajasin Way , Akure Shopping Compx. , Bishops Court , Central Bank , Code of Conduct Way , Federal Secretariat , G.R.A , Government Press , House of Assembly , Igbatoro Rd. , Investment House , Olukayode St. , SDP Secretariat , State Secretariat , WAEC INEC Rd.

Araromi

Postcode => 340282
The Postcode include Abibirin St. , Adegbola Memorial Gram. Sch. , Ademuagun St. , Ajaye Oba St. , Ajaye Quarters , Akinsncu St. , Akinwale St. , Akosile St. , Akupe High School Road , Aliu St. , Araromi St. , Ayetoro St. , Ayeyem St. , Bishop Hughas High School , Dare Ajayi St. , Dayo-Idowu St. , I. K. Ojo St. , Ifelodun St. , Igbehinadun St. , Inaro A & B St. , Irepodan Abcde , Isolo St. , Mayegun St. , Odo Ikoyi St. , Oja-Oshodi St. , Oke Anu St. , Oke-Ibunun St. , Oke-Ijebu Quarters , Ola-Olawa St. , Olorunsogo St. , Oyejola St. , Plaza Motel , Temibire B St. , Temidire St. , Tinubu St. , Uncle Olubo St.

Fanini Estate Federal University of Technology

Postcode => 340252
The Postcode include Agunloye , Akad Filling Station , Akinsola Sawmill , Akupe Local Govt. Office , Alaba Layout , Apatapiti Layout , Aralepo , Ayo Nio St. , Benaof Beverages Depot , Caeco Furniture , Champion , Coca-cola , Eddoye St. , Fanibi Est. , Ijalade St. , Lydia Rd. , Mojere Market , Ogundele/Ogunlusi Layout , Oguntoye Layout , Oke Eresu Layout , Ondo Rd. , Power UNE , State Industrial Layout , Titilayo Lodge , United C.A.C. Gram. Sch.
Gbadare Ondo Bye Pass

Postcode => 340251
The Postcode include Adinlewa St. , Afanbiowo St. , Ajebanidele , Albert Lane Ln. , Ayetutu St. , Bishop House , C.A.C Arammal School Rd Rd. , Fagbamigbe , Gbogi , Igbeyinadun St. , Korede St. , Odofin St. , Ojijigogun , Ondo Bye Pass , St. Lewis Girls Gram. Sch. , Survey Office
High Court

Postcode => 340222
The Postcode include Akure Shopping Compx. , Governors House Rd. , High Court , Kudirat Abiola Shopping Compx. , NEPA Court , Oke Eda St. , Ondo State Water Corporation , Secretariat Offices , Union Bank
Ijapo Estate

Postcode => 340212
The Postcode include Ado St. , AP Filling Station , Ewti St. , Eyemote St. , Gbolaji St. , Henry Fajemirokun St. , Ijapo Police Station , Ijepo St. , Ikogosi St. , Ikole St. , Imade St. , James Adegoke St. , Kola Ogunmola St. , Mown St. , Ojumu St. , Oke Ijebu , Omuo St. , Ondo Ave. , Otun Cr. , Owo Ave. , State Housing Corporation , Victory Garden
Ijare Irese Rd.

Postcode => 340283
The Postcode include Ijare Rd. , Irese Road , Orita Obele , OSRC
Ijomu

Postcode => 340211
The Postcode include Ayetoro St. , Edo Lodge , Fiwasaye Girls Gram School , Ijomu St. , James Adegoke St. , Min of Agric & Nat Resources , Obanla St. , Oke Emeso St. , Olunatedo , Oluyide St. , Princess Hotel , St. David’s Pry. School , St. Mary Children School , Vining Christian Centre
NIPOST Headquarters

Postcode => 340271
The Postcode include Arikawe St. , Arowosafe Layout , Banire , Dandare Workshop Area , Dominic Rd. , Elecfosan Famotua Layout , Faloye Av. , Fayanju St. , Femi Alewi St. , Idea Paint Nig. Ltd. , Lafe Inn , Leo Rd. , Martins St. , Min. of Works & Housing , NEPA Quarters , NIPOST Head Quarters , Oba Adesida Layout , Obadare , Okeitura , Okuta Elerinwa , Saint Peters , Town Planning Authority , Yemi Ajibade
Oba Ile

Postcode => 340214
The Postcode include C/S Rd. , Ejioba High Sch. , Mission Rd. , Oba-Ile Housing , OSRC.
Obas Palace

Postcode => 340221
The Postcode include Afunbi Owo Rd. , Alakunre St. , Amudipe St. , Arakale St. , Ayegunle St. , Edungba St. , Egbedi St. , Epekesan St. , Eruoba St. A & B , Idiagba St. , Igan St. , Igbede St. , Min of Justice Igbede St. , Igboyegun St. , Ijala St. , Ijofi St. , Iromu St. , Kemo St. , Oba Osupa St. , Oeji’s Palace , Okelisa St. , Orisa St.
Oke Aro Danjuma

Postcode => 340241
The Postcode include Abiodun S St. , Adebobajo St. , Adebowale A & B St. , Ajebamidele St. , Ajipowo Layout School , Akupe Commercial College , Aladetoyinbo St. , Aratusin Layout , Arisoyin Qtrs. , Army , Army Children School , Awoyokun St. , Ayobami St. , Binkin St. , C.A.C Ada Memorial , Ereketa St. , Eru Oba Titun , Fanimokun St. , Folahan Aladeniyi St. , Gbajumo St. , Hotel Honey Moon , Idi Iroko St. , Ifelere St. , Ifelodun St. , Ilupeju St. , Isafiri Family Layout , Jeje St. , Kolanole St. , M.A.N.R Poultry Farm Area , Min of Agric & Natural Resources , Odi Olowo St. , Odole St. , Odundun Rd. , Oke Alafia , Olukayo Sawmill , Oruntan St. , Osabiyi Layout , School Ln. , Surulere St. , Tutugbua Layout
Okearo

Postcode => 340231
The Postcode include Ajegunle St. , Akure Musum College , Alafe St. , Alafiatayo , Ayelabola St. , Debonah Lodge , Eleye St. , Eyinke St. , Falokun St. , Gbangbalogun St. , Green Park , Igbolini St. , Ijemikin St. , Irowo St. , Iselemo St. , Iwalewa , Iwaro St. , Koro Quarters , Moferere , N.P.F Station , Odige St. , Odopetu St. , Odundun St. , Oke Apata St. , Oke Padre , Okebola St. , Osinle St. , Otutubiosnu St.
Osinle Sijuade Estate

Postcode => 340232
The Postcode include Ajowa St. , Akinola Oluyede St. , Akure Musum School , Ala Cl. , Ala Quarters , Davog , Dele Akinluyi St. , Dele Johnson St. , Ejioba Motel St. , Elewa Pantaku Layout , Fairmont Hotel , Farmers House , Ifelodun St. , Ijo Mimo , Ijoka Rd. , Ijomimo High School , Investment House Oda Rd. , Kemobola St. , Majeobaje Giwa St. , Mercy St. , N.R.C. Secretariat , N.U.T , New Hospital Rd. , New Sijuade St. , Odopo Layout , Odopo Rd. , Old Sijuade St. , Olisa Layout , Olu Ibukun St. , Oluwatuyi Rd. , Onoduni St. , Owena Motels , Owobamigbe St. , Power Line , Psychiatric Hospital , Rainbow Hotel , School of Health Technology , School of M/Denifery , Shitu St. , Sijnade Rd. , Sijuade Housing Estate , St. Luke’s Ang. Church , Surulere St. , Temidire St. , Trade Fair Complex
Owode

Postcode => 340281
The Postcode include Adeniyan St. , Adeola St. , Afere St. , Ajayi St. , Ajerom/ St. , Ajisola St. , Akinniranye Av. , Alco St. , Alhaja Ln. , Eringbo A & C , Esho St. , Fabusny St. , Fakunle St. , Glorunimbe St. , Glowomeye St. , Gpopoala A & C , Ibera St. , Idera St. , Iloro , Imaagun A & B , James Badejo St. , Lawman Academy , Makanjnola St. , Meshe St. , Odo Ijoka/Ehin Ala , Onode I & II , Prince Adeniyi St. , Stadium Rd. , Tuyi St.
School Of Agric

Postcode => 340213
The Postcode include Fabilola Estate , Min of Justice , Rural Education Centre , Texaco Petrol Station
Shagari Village

Postcode => 340284
The Postcode include Humaj , Presidential Av. Av. , Primary School Rd. Rd. , Tawani Rd. Rd.
Rural Locations
Igba -Toro

 Postcode => 340101
Towns using The Postcode include Alasoadura , Aponmu , Awule , Eleyowo , Igbatoro Femilugba , Igoba , Isinigbo , Ita-Oniyan , Iwoye , Osi
Oba-Ile

 Postcode => 340102
Towns using The Postcode include Araromi , Bolorunduro , Eleyewo , Owode
Oda

 Postcode => 340103
Towns using The Postcode include Adejubu , Ajagbusi , Emilolo , Ilekun , Isagba , Olokuta , Onipanu
Ita Ogbolu (Rural)

 Postcode => 340104
Towns using The Postcode include Abusoro , Agamo , Ago Egbira , Amosi , Aresun , Igbogede , IJU 340105 , Ilado , Ipole Irado , Odudu
Aiyede-Ogbese

 Postcode => 340106
Towns using The Postcode include Ago Oyinbo , Alayere , Ayunla , Ilu Abo , Kajola

Full List of Popular Celebrity Actresses From Ondo State

 

Full List of Popular Celebrity Actors From Ondo State

 

History of Ondo State

Ondo State is a state in Nigeria created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.