In a recent interview with Arise News, Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last election, and rights activist, expressed serious allegations against the family of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and the political cabal in Ondo State.
Sowore accused them of manipulating information about the governor’s death for financial gain, claiming that the family, especially the wife and son, were exploiting the situation to extract more funds from the state.
During the interview, Sowore pointed out the perceived contempt in the wife’s demeanor towards the newly sworn-in governor, interpreting it as manipulative. He claimed that recent behavior contradicted her actions just days before when she was reportedly insulting people. Sowore asserted that Akeredolu did not die in Germany, as claimed by the family, and emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the late governor’s body to verify the timing of his demise.
“The disdain evident in the wife’s gaze towards the newly sworn-in governor appeared calculated and manipulative. Currently, she is projecting an air of sorrow. Just three days ago, she had been hurling insults at everyone, referring to them as ‘bush people.’
Moreover, he asserted, “We later found out that Akeredolu did not die in Germany. The assertions being made are deceptive; perhaps an attempt to siphon funds from the state. Every aspect of this narrative is steeped in falsehood.”
Sowore went on to allege that the family and political cabal exploited Akeredolu’s vulnerability to engage in fraudulent activities, including forging signatures.
“What these individuals—the wife, son, and political cabal in Ondo State—did was exploit Akeredolu’s vulnerability to satisfy their greed, engaging in the forgery of signatures,” remarked Sowore.
He further stated, “In a more accountable society, a thorough investigation would ensue, leading to the indictment of these individuals for the criminal acts they have committed by capitalizing on Akeredolu’s vulnerability.”
He expressed dismay at the lack of proper investigation and indictment for such potentially criminal acts, emphasizing the need for lessons from past incidents, such as the Yar’adua saga, to prevent a recurrence.
He remarked, “In a more prudent society like Nigeria, these individuals would undergo thorough investigation and face indictment for the criminal acts they have committed, exploiting Akeredolu’s vulnerability.
“This unfortunate incident could have been prevented had we heeded the lessons from the late Yar’adua saga. Had the legal processes been executed appropriately following the Yar’adua incident, we could have averted the current situation.”
According to Sowore, inconsistencies in the family’s statements and the absence of a specific location of Akeredolu’s death in President Tinubu’s statement raised suspicions.
Concluding the interview, Sowore voiced a personal belief that Akeredolu might have passed away long before the official announcement.
He stated, “They are manipulating information. Even President Tinubu didn’t mention where Akeredolu died in his statement.”
“I have a suspicion, though I may be mistaken, that Akeredolu passed away a while ago,” Sowore concluded.
The gravity of these allegations calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the late governor’s death and potential financial misappropriations.