Buhari, Saraki, Dogara, APC, Tinubu, Atiku, Aregbesola, mourn Adeleke

Protest in Ede

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday joined other eminent Nigerians to mourn the demise of the first civilian governor of Osun State and the senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.

Adeleke died at the age of 62 at Bikets Hospital in Osogbo, after suffering a heart attack, according to family sources.The atmosphere was emotional as his corpse was brought in at about 1:10 p.m. preparatory for Islamic burial rites, which held at 4:p.m.

His sudden death yesterday, which caught many of his party loyalists by surprise, sparked a spontaneous violent protest in his hometown, Ede, as scores of youths took to the streets and made bonfires in strategic locations.

Though, details of cause of the death of the grassroots and popular politician still remain unknown as at the time of filing this report, he was said to have attended a political meeting on Saturday before he was rushed to the hospital on Sunday morning.

The entire ancient town of Ede wore a mournful look yesterday when The Guardian visited the residence of the deceased.Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, yesterday, condoled with Osun State Government, members of the National Assembly, family and friends of the former Governor of Osun State who he said had passionately and relentlessly championed the cause of the less privileged and most vulnerable in Nigeria.

The President said the sudden loss of the legislator would create a gap in the hallowed red chamber as Adeleke had always epitomized unbridled patriotism, maturity and experience, especially with his recent interest in the protection of whistle blowers.

Senate President Bukola Saraki described his death as a sad personal loss.A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, quoted Saraki as saying: “He was a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, good family man and complete gentleman whose contributions to the development of Osun State in particular and the nation in general will never be forgotten.”

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said his sudden death was a huge loss to the country.The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Osun State Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, said the death of Senator Adeleke “struck us like a thunderbolt. Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who is far away in China on state assignment is still speechless and in mourning. While the government awaits the reports of the autopsy, which is being conducted, we can only calm our people to take this huge and incalculable loss with equanimity.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed deep sympathies to the immediate family, people and Osun State and described him as a detribalised Nigerian.The National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said Adeleke was a grassroots politician with a rich political background, who was hugely popular in his state, particularly in the three local governments in Ede, his hometown. He was a major leader of our party, the APC. His leadership and good counsel were still very much required when death came.

For former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Adeleke was a cosmopolitan politician, who had a good grasp of the dynamics of Nigeria.Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi described the death of Adeleke, as disheartening and sad.To Senator Iyiola Omisore, “The news of Adeleke’s death was difficult to believe.”