L-R: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; wife of former Acting Governor, Ekiti State, Chief Friday Aderemi, Rachael; with sons, Oluwasegun and Oluwaseun, during a condolence visit to the Aiyetoro home of the late former Governor.
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has extolled the virtues of dedication and selfless service exemplified by the late former acting Governor of the State, Chief Friday Aderemi, saying that the former acting Governor played a crucial role in rescuing the State from snowballing into anarchy in 2006.
The Governor who paid a condolence visit to Aderemi’s family and the traditional ruler of the deceased’s country home, Oba Olufisan Ajayi in Ayetoro Ekiti on Wednesday asserted that Aderemi lived a life of service, dedication and commitment to the people whom he represented.
Dr Fayemi stressed that the deceased stood in defence of Ekiti people in October 2006 when former Governor Ayo Fayose and his deputy were impeached, leading to his emergence as the acting Governor of the State for two days before Chief Olusegun Obasanjo declared a state of emergency on October 18.
Aderemi, 74, died on Tuesday after an illness he battled with since October last year.
Governor Fayemi added that the late Aderemi did not play the politics of bitterness but was committed to serving the people and bring about development to the grassroots as he still served as the Chairman of the State Education Trust Fund before his death.
“Through trials and travails, he stood in defense of Ekiti people and those of us who worked closely with him. We saw him as a mentor, father, leader of his people. I have monitored him since he went to hospital in October. We were very hopeful on the state of his health.
Those of us he left behind have a duty to continue with his philosophy of politics without bitterness, politics of service to his people to his people and Ekiti as a whole. He rescued our state at a most critical point in the life of the state and if he had not offered himself for service, the history of Ekiti will have been written differently. We must not forget that and continue to honour his family and the work he did on behalf of our people”, he said.
Fayemi however stated that the State Government would work together with the family to give him a befitting burial.
In her remarks, the widow of Aderemi, Madam Rachael Aderemi commended the State Government for the support given the deceased while he battled with the ailment; saying that this shows that the government is committed to the welfare of its workforce.
The Governor also visited the Alayetoro, Oba Ajayi who thanked him for the medical attention given Aderemi, saying that he daily got report of his improvement until the unfortunate departure.
Last modified: January 8, 2014
