Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said the South-West has lost a dogged fighter and courageous leader who worked hard for the peace, prosperity and progress of the region with the death of Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Makinde said this while reacting to the death of Akeredolu in Germany on Tuesday evening, where he had been taking treatment for Leukaemia.

“I have also lost a worthy co-fighter for the south-west cause because we were both at the vanguard of the struggle which birthed the South-West Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun,” Makinde said in a statement issued in Ibadan on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju

The Oyo State described Akeredolu’s fervent and unrelenting stance on issues bordering on south-west’s regional integration and progress as a lesson for leaders, adding that: “he will be sorely missed.”

He described Akeredolu’s death as a painful loss to Yorubaland and Nigeria in general.

The Oyo State Governor expressed heartfelt condolences to the late governor’s wife, Betty, the entire family as well as the government and people of Ondo state.

He described Akeredolu, who, until his death, was the Chairman of South-West Governors’ Forum, as a dogged fighter and courageous leader.

He said that the deceased worked hard with his colleague-governors for the peace, prosperity and progress of south-west states.

He said: “I received with great sadness the news of the death of my brother, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the governor of Ondo State and Chairman, South-West Governors’ Forum.

“I condole with his wife and children as well as the government and people of Ondo State over this sad loss.