Speaker’s Death Saddens Gov. Ajimobi

The death of the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Michael Adeyemo, has left the Governor Abiola Ajimobi visibly display emotion on Saturday when he led the state’s Executive Council and House of Assembly members on a condolence visit to the deceased country home, Lanlate.

The sudden death of the 47-year-old speaker, early Friday morning, had thrown the entire state into gloom, following which the governor declared three-days of mourning during which flags were expected to be flown at half mast.

Since the incident, the governor had been visibly devastated and had not made any public appearance, except during Saturday’s visit to the late speaker’s parents, monarchs and political leaders in Ibarapa zone, throughout when he fought back tears.

The governor also visited the Arowooje of Lanlate, Oba Lateef Olagoke; the Eleruwa of Eruwaland, Oba Samuel Adegbola, in their palaces to commiserate with the monarchs on the death of their illustrious son.

In his condolence message, the governor said that the death of the speaker was the greatest loss his administration and the All Progressives Congress (APC) family in the state had so far recorded.

Ajimobi wrote, “He was a brilliant, eloquent, intelligent, diligent and most patriotic speaker I ever met. He contributed immensely to the success of this (Ajimobi’s) administration.

“He was a peacemaker, bridge builder and a great son of Lanlate, Oyo State and Nigeria. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

Speaking on behalf of the Lanlate monarch, the Osi Lanlate, Chief Adegboye Adelani, described the death of Adeyemo as a tragic loss to the town and the Ibarapa zone, following what he called his monumental contributions to their development.

The Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, described Adeyemo as a respnosible and caring son of the land.

The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, also described Adeyemo’s death and that of the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Sokoto, State, Mallam Imam Imam as colossal tragedies.

Governor Aregbesola, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Sola Fasure, paid glowing tribute to Honourable Adeyemo, whose sudden death was a rude shock to Oyo State and the country. “He was hale and hearty, full of life, when last I saw him recently. He was his usual self, active, effervescent, exuding infectious enthusiasm. He will be missed.

In the same vain, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Oyo State Council has expressed shock over the sudden death of the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Michael Adeyemo.

The NUJ, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrades Adewumi Faniran and Bola Ogunlayi says the Union is particularly disturbed with the death of the speaker at his prime.

“More worrisome is the fact that the death came on the heels of clamour for power shift to the youths from the older generation.”

A former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleosho, has described the death of Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo, as a tragic loss to the state.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Koleosho said the death was so shocking because the Speaker appeared healthy and agile.

Koleosho said in the statement: “The Speaker was a vibrant young man with a very bright political future. He was one of the young men I had thought would play definite and defining role in shaping the future of our state. So, his death is a huge shock to me.”

Also, a chieftain of the APC in Oyo State, Dr Ismail Adebayo Adewusi, expressed shock at the sudden death of the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo.

Oyo Assembly Speaker, Michael Adeyemo, is dead
Adewusi, who hailed from the same Ibarapa zone as the late speaker, described Adeyemo’s death as a huge shock, saying he was taken away at a time he was making great contributions to the political and socio-economic development of Oyo State and Nigeria.

Governorship aspirant of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Osun State, Honourable Femi Kehinde and a former Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Honourable Babatunde Oduyoye, mourned the untimely death of the Oyo State Speaker.

The duo, in separate statements, described the news of Adeyemo’s death as shocking and saddening, noting that his exit would leave a vacuum in the House of Assembly, where he has been a major stabilising factor and the state.

A governorship aspirant of the APC the state, Dr Yunus Akintunde, expressed shock at the death of the Speaker.

In his condolence message, Akintunde, who is a former Commissioner for Works, said his death dealt a huge blow to the government and people of the state.

Akintunde, a governorship hopeful, described the deceased as a gentle, humble, affable and purposeful politician who had a brighter future ahead of him but which death cut short.