BY OUR REPORTERS
IBADAN – THE remains of the former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina were yesterday interred in his Felele residence according to Islamic rites.
IBADAN – THE remains of the former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina were yesterday interred in his Felele residence according to Islamic rites.
He died early yesterday in a private hospital in Lagos having battled fruitlessly with diabetes.
Crowd at the burial of Late Lam Adesina
His corpse arrived Ibadan in an Ambulance with number plate LA156A08 at exactly 3.20 pm and was lowered into the grave about one hour later.
At the burial rites were notable politicians from different political parties in the country. Among them are the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honorable Aminu Tambuwal, the National leader of ACN, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande.
Others who attended the ceremony are Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state.
While conducting the burial rites, the Chief Imam of Ibadan-land, Sheikh Haruna Suara urged the crowd to pray for the dead politician. He encouraged all the sympathizers not to lose heart by the death of the politician adding that he lived a fulfilled life.
When Vanguard visited the Felele residence, the whole street was filled up with hundreds of sympathizers.
In his words, Chief Akande described Lam Adesina as “one of the most courageous leaders Nigeria has ever produced lamenting that he died too early.
His contributions in the circuit of the progressives, he noted, would be greatly missed for several years.
One of the three musketeers and the former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, also spoke glowingly about the deceased.
“What you cannot take away from him is his forthrightness and outspokenness, he tells it as it is even in the face of intimidation and threat to his personal safety”, Osoba stated.
state govt declares 7 days mourning
As a mark of honour for the political icon, the state government has declared a seven-day mourning for the departed elder statesman and former teacher of Governor Ajimobi.
During the seven days of mourning, all official state functions will be suspended and the national flag flown at half mast.
Governor Ajimobi described Alhaji Adesina as “a dedicated patriot, foremost defender of democracy and human rights, and political war-horse who had always stood on the side of truth”.
Also, Senator Rashidi Ladoja through the Director of the Accord Party in the state, Prince Dotun Oyelade said his death had opened another vista in the politics of oyo state.
According to him, Adesina represented the dwindling specie of those politicians who honestly strived to live the glittering example of the spartan life bequeathed from Chief Obafemi Awolowo.”His death will create a dangerous void in his political party the ACN and those who will attempt to profit from his absence may be consumed by their opportunism” he stated.
Jonathan, Atiku, ACN, others condole Adesina’s family
President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed sadness at the death of elder statesman, Alhaji Lam Adesina.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, president Jonathan extended his “heartfelt condolences to Alhaji Adesina’s family and the Government and people of Oyo State.
“The President joins late Alhaji Adesina’s family, relatives, friends, associates and all who knew him in mourning the renowned educationist and political leader who devoted his entire adult life to working for the progress of his people and the nation.
“President Jonathan believes that Alhaji Adesina’s indefatigability in political struggles as well as his honesty, integrity, sincere commitment and dedication to the service of his people before and during his tenure as governor have ensured that he will be honoured and remembered by present and future generations as an exemplary leader who did his utmost best to improve the lives of his people.
“He prays that God Almighty will receive Alhaji Adesina’s soul and grant him eternal rest.
Nigeria has lost an irrepressible voice of conscience, says ACN
The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, has described the death of former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, as a devastating blow to the party in particular and a big loss to the nation in general, saying Nigeria has lost an irrepressible voice of conscience.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement, however, prayed God to give the bereaved family the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss.
Adesina was redoubtable democrat —Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the death of Lam Adesina has robbed Nigeria of a vibrant voice of democracy.
In a tribute to Adesina contained in a statement by his media office in Abuja, the former PDP presidential aspirant noted that despite his age, the late politician was actively engaged in the struggle to protect our democracy from dictatorship.
Driven by a remarkable courage of conviction, he said Adesina was never hesitant to speak the truth to power, despite the potential dangers of official intimidations and harassment.
It’s a huge loss —Aregbesola
On his part, the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, described as a rude shock the death of the ACN chieftain
In a statement issued by the Director of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said Adesina’s death would create a huge political vacuum not only in the South-West but also in Nigeria as a whole.
Mimiko mourns Lam Adesina
GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State yesterday described the death of Ex- Oyo governor as a sad loss to the nation and the clan of progressive politics in particular.
Commiserating with the family of the deceased, Dr Mimiko said no doubt, the death of the former governor has left a vacuum among the progressives in the country adding that the vacuum he left behind may not be easily filled.
He described the deceased as a pragmatic politician whose role in the enthronement of democracy in the country could not be quantified and recalled that Lam was active in the fight against Military dictatorship and played a significant role in bringing about the democratic experience being witnessed in the country now.
It’s big loss to democracy — Fayemi
TO Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Lam Adesina’s death is a “big loss to the Nigerian democracy.”
Fayemi, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, described Adesina as “one of the heroes, who fought tooth and nail for the return of democracy in 1999.”
Fayemi, in a statement yesterday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Yinka Oyebode, described Adesina as “one of the heroes, who fought tooth and nail for the return of democracy in 1999.”
He further described Adesina as a committed Awoist who practised and defended the ideals of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo till he (Adesina) breathed his last.
He was educationist, politician and statesman —Sen Bukola Saraki
Mourning the late Adesina, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki representing Kwara central said “his invaluable contribution as an educationist, politician and statesman will not be easily forgotten”.
According to a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Bamikola Omishore, Saraki said “it was with heavy heart that I received the news of the passing away of Alhaji Lamidi Onaolapo Adesina, former Governor of Oyo State.”
