Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, paid a condolence visit to the family of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu, at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Thursday.
According to a statement by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Aiyedatiwa, who led members of the State Executive Council on the condolence visit, described his late principal as "a sincere, courageous, selfless, and patriotic leader who fought for his people, championed development, and touched many lives."
He said it was a rare privilege to have served under his tutelage, adding that the name of the late Akeredolu will never be forgotten "because his legacies and impacts can be seen and felt across the state and the country."
The statement partly read, "Governor Aiyedatiwa reiterated that the demise of his late boss is a great loss to Ondo State, the South West region, and Nigeria at large, stressing that Akeredolu's struggle for a peaceful, fair, and just society is one that can never be forgotten in a hurry.
"He noted that the legacies of the late Akeredolu will continue to reverberate in his invaluable contributions to the socio-economic and infrastructural development of Ondo State, the growth of the Anglican Church, and the reforms in the legal profession in Nigeria.
"The governor emphasised that Akeredolu completed and fulfilled his mission on earth and was blessed with wonderful children that can sustain his good name.
"Responding on behalf of the Akeredolu family, the younger brother of the deceased, Pastor Kola Akeredolu, thanked the delegation led by Governor Aiyedatiwa for the thoughtful visit."
Akeredolu died on Wednesday morning at the age of 67 while undergoing treatment for prostate cancer in a German hospital.
Aiyedatiwa was also sworn in as substantive governor on Wednesday, following the death of the governor.