- As Ambode mourns passage of the Osun Senator
The Executive Chairman of CACOL, Debo Adeniran, has condemned the plot to drag Governor Rauf Aregbesola into the circumstances of Adeleke’s death. Adeniran in a social media conversation declared: “It’s idiotic! The insinuation that Aregbesola from Osun East has a hand in the death of Adeleke from West for senatorial ticket!”
Debo Adeniran was reacting to the twist over the circumstances of Adeleke’s death. Earlier report had it that the former Senator died of heart attack. The later report has been insinuating poisoning which precipitated demands for autopsy on the remains of the former Osun Governor.
A stakeholder, however, contended that “Rather than being poisoned as being rumoured; Adeleke was likely a victim of very hectic lifestyle that yielded little or no space to Spartan self-restraint, care and moderation, in all spheres of his life. It is not just about him, that is the way of Nigerian politicking and politicians.”
Those behind the insinuation were gathered to be linking the death of the former Senator with the prospective struggle for the Senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections. Unfortunately, Governor Aregbesola has been identified to represent Osun East while late Adeleke represents Osun West; thus, the insinuation does not correlate with the political ambition in question.
Meanwhile, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Monday, expressed shock and sadness over the death of former Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who until his death represents Osun West senatorial district in the National Assembly.
Governor Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna, said that Adeleke’s death was a huge loss to the entire Southwest region and the Yoruba nation across the world.
“I was deeply shocked to learn of his death this morning. Only last month, he was in Lagos to join us celebrate our party leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He made his mark first as the first civilian Governor of Osun State and then as a Senator, he was one of the most prominent lawmakers who did not shy away from issues that affected Nigerians in general.
“He was very passionate about Nigeria’s progress and contributed immensely to the expansion of progressive politics especially in the South West. Senator Adeleke was a loving man, a peace maker, a grassroots politician and a detribalized Nigerian who was well loved by his people,” Ambode said.
The Governor prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul, urging his family to draw strength from the fact that he made meaningful impact during his lifetime.
Governor Ambode also commiserated with the people of Osun State, especially, the people of Osun West Senatorial Zone and Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the sad loss.
“On behalf of my family and the good people of Lagos State, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the people of South West Nigeria and Nigerians in general on this great and irreparable loss. He will be sorely missed”, he said.
Adeleke, the first civilian Governor of Osun State and a serving Senator representing Osun West senatorial district passed on in Osun on Sunday morning at the age of 62.