Rotimi Agboluaje, Ibadan
Osun state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Oyo state counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, and Senator AbdulFatai Buhari have described the death of the first civilian Governor of Osun State and serving senator, Isiaka Adeleke, as shocking, disheartening and sad.
In a tribute personally signed by him and made available to Thisage, Governor Aregbesola started with a preface: erin wo, ajanaku sun bi oke, a titan is gone.
“I received with deep shock but submission to the will of Allah (SWT) the news of the death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke early this morning. He was 62 years. Senator Adeleke was the first civilian governor of the State of Osun elected on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the aborted Third Republic. He was in office between January 1992 and November 1993.
“At the return of civil democratic rule, he was elected as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Osun West in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 2007 to 2011.
“Senator Adeleke came from the illustrious Adeleke family of Ede. His father, Senator Ayoola Adeleke, was a progressive politician, an ally of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and a staunch member of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), under which banner he was elected to the Nigerian Senate in the Second Republic.
“It is not surprising therefore that Senator Adeleke returned to the progressives fold in 2014 when he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC). He returned to the Senate in 2015, having contested the Osun West Senatorial seat in the general election and won as the candidate of the APC.
“Senator Adeleke became the first civilian governor of Osun at the age of 37, barely a year after the creation of the state, at a period he was most energetic. He therefore labored hard, giving his best, to lay a good foundation for the then young state, the impact of which we still feel today, even though he was in office for less than two years.
“He was a charismatic politician and political leader with panache, passion and fervor that traversed the political spectrum, appealing to all social strata. He was at home with the grassroots as he was with the elite.
“Senator Adeleke was a very generous man who gave his all to the needy, friends and constituents, without favor to ethnicity, religion and background. Thousands benefitted from his scholarship scheme and social empowerment programs.
“He was a loyal party member and a team player who was determined to help realize the progressive agenda of the party, through legislation, not just in the whole country but in the State of Osun and Osun West Senatorial District as well.
“Senator Adeleke was a personal friend who was committed to my re-election with his entire being.
“He was unflinching in his support and commitment, even when the security agencies laid a siege to his residence on the eve of the August 9, 2014 governorship election.
“His death is very painful and a blow to us all. He is leaving a void in us, the Senate of the Federal Republic, Osun politics and his community in Ede that will be hard to fill. We give thanks to the Almighty God for the fruitful and exemplary life that Senator Adeleke lived. All mortal come from him and to him shall they return.
“On behalf of the government, the good people of Osun and my family, I offer sincere condolences to his wife and children, the Adeleke Family of Ede, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the APC national and in the State of Osun, the good people of Ede and the progressives family at large.
“May God grant him eternal repose and Aljanna Fidaus.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, in lbadan, on Sunday, Governor Ajimobi said he received the news of Adeleke’s sudden death with shock and disbelief.
The governor described the late Adeleke as a celebrated and a committed politician, a distinguished senator, grassroots mobilizer, socialite and great philanthropist.
Ajimobi said, “When the news filtered in that Senator Adeleke was dead, l was extremely shocked and amazed. I found it very difficult to believe, because he was bubbling with life when l saw him last.
“Senator Adeleke was one person l admired for being a fine politician who committed his life to the service of humanity and his native Ede land.
“Right from his days as the first elected governor of Osun State up till his death, he never wavered in stretching his helping hands to the poor and the needy.
“His role in the dominance of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, from when he decided to team up with the progressives, till death, is noteworthy. Senator Adeleke was an asset to our party. He will be greatly missed.”
Ajimobi also commended the late senator’s contributions to debates on the floor of the Upper legislative chamber, which, he said, contributed immensely to quality legislation by the National Assembly.
The governor expressed the regret that the cold hands of death snatched away Senator Adeleke at a period when he said his wealth of experience was needed to salvage the country from its current socio-political challenges.
He added, “His sudden death is even more regrettable because the people of Osun State, members of the APC nationwide and indeed all Nigerians will henceforth miss his gregarious personality, his zeal for development as well as his great mobilization skills.”
Ajimobi prayed that the Almighty Allah should grant the soul of the late senator Aljanah firdous, and for God to grant the bereaved family, the late senator’s friends and kinsfolk in Ede the fortitude to bear the loss.
Senator Buhari, the Chairman, the Senate Committee on ICT, (Information and Communication Technology) and Cybercrime, described his colleague from Osun West senatorial district, the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke as a friendly and cheerful lawmaker who will be greatly missed.
Senator Buhari, representing Oyo North senatorial district said the news of Adeleke’s death was not only shocking but also confusing and disturbing.
He said; “He is a responsible and principled politician who is passionate about his constituents and the state at large.
“His immense contribution to the growth of the State of Osun and the Federal Republic of Nigeria will forever be remembered.
“As mortals, we have no option but to submit to the will of Almighty Allah who gives and take at will but we shall continue to pray for the repose of his soul and may Allah grant him Aljan fridaus
“I sympathize with the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his immediate and extended family, political associates and the entire people of the state and pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”.
Meanwhile, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has directed the declaration of a three-day period of mourning throughout the state.
This, according to a statement signed by his director, bureau of communication and strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlanwo, is in honor of the departed first civilian governor of the State of Osun, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
The 3-day mourning period commences from today Monday, April 24, 2017. During the period of mourning, all flags are to fly at half-mast. Adeleke was buried in the early hours of Monday
