Ekiti Speaker, Afuye dies at 66

The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr Funminiyi Afuye, has passed on. Afuye, who represented Ikere Constituency 1, died yesterday at the age of 66, after suffering a cardiac arrest.

A member of the House confirmed to newsmen last night that he was rushed to the state teaching hospital after developing cardiac arrest, but passed on after attempts by doctors to save his life failed.

Afuye was at the inauguration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, on Sunday, and had chaired plenary on Tuesday before the sudden turn of event yesterday.

“This is funny and shocking. Afuye was at the House of Assembly yesterday (Tuesday), so his death is devastating to us. It is a rude shock. We learnt he developed sudden complications this morning and was rushed to the hospital, where he later died,” a source said.

Afuye, who was in the Assembly between 2007 and 2011, was spending his second term in the assembly and his tenure was billed to expire June 6, 2023.

This was confirmed by Yinka Oyebode, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, in a statement.

He said: “The government of Ekiti State regrets to announce the death of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Funminiyi Afuye. Afuye died Wednesday evening at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado- Ekiti, where he was receiving treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest.”

The late Afuye was a former Commissioner, Ekiti Ministry of Information and two- time member of the State Assembly.

He was inaugurated Speaker of the sixth Assembly on June 6, 2019.