Read the state government’s press statement below…
We are still in shock and
great pain over the transition of our friend, associate and brother,
Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He was a prominent son of our state and
its first democratically elected Governor. Until his death, he was the
senator representing Osun West in the Senate of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
He was an astute and
colourful politician and a generous personality. He was gregarious,
enthusiastic and full of life and zest. His death is therefore shocking
and totally unexpected.
The
State Government of Osun had intended to give him a befitting state
burial which he rightly deserved and which the state had prepared to
undertake. Regrettably, however, the enemies of the state, through
brigandage, violence and evil machinations, created an atmosphere of
fear and terror in the minds of our citizenry and friends throughout the
federation.
Immediately the
news of his demise filtered in, a band of vagabonds, crying more than
the bereaved, took to the streets, looting and wreaking havoc.
Journalists were roughened and their equipment damaged. Important
dignitaries that came for the burial were equally molested by these
thugs.
Senator Adeleke was a
man of peace. He preached peace and lived it through his life. He left
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he could not stand violence.
This was after he was beaten up by some leaders of the PDP during a
meeting in a hotel in Osogbo. It is a profound irony and most
unfortunate therefore that a few disgruntled elements purporting to
protest his death desecrated his funeral with violence and attacks on
innocent persons. They dishonoured him and did his memory a great
disservice by keeping his friends, political associates and well-wishers
away from his burial.
The best
we could do in the circumstance was to declare three days of mourning
throughout the state and fly national, state and our party’s flags at
half-mast in his honour.
In
the light of this, the State Government of Osun, using the
instrumentality of the law, is setting up an inquest to unravel the
circumstances of this unfortunate and sad incident, in order to put the
record straight on his death. We continue to mourn the untimely death
of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He is irreplaceable in our hearts.
We
commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates,
friends, constituents and generality of our people on the passage of
this patriot. As we pray for the repose of his soul, we equally pray for
the strength to bear this heavy loss.
360L
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