*Adeleke is “gentle and kind-hearted” – President Buhari
*The death of Senator Adeleke is hard to accept – Osun Government
President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with Osun Government and the National Assembly on the passing away of Senator Isiaka Adeleke on Sunday.
Buhari in a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Sunday, described the late lawmaker as “the gentle and kind-hearted former Governor of Osun’’.
He said that Adeleke had passionately and relentlessly championed the cause of the less-privileged and most vulnerable in Nigeria. According to him, the sudden loss of the legislator will create a gap in the hallowed red chamber as Adeleke had always epitomized unbridled patriotism, maturity and experience, especially with his recent interest in whistleblower’s protection.
The President affirmed that Adeleke’s contribution to his state as first elected governor, and the country, would always be remembered by posterity.
He prayed that the almighty God would grant the soul of the departed eternal rest, and comfort the family.
In his own reaction to the news of Adeleke’s death, President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, described the death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as a sad personal loss.
Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described Adeleke — the first elected Governor of Osun State — as an important figure in the Eighth Senate.
“My heart goes out to the family of Senator Adeleke, and the people of the great State of Osun,” Saraki said, “Adeleke was a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, good family man and complete gentleman whose contributions to the development of the of Osun State in particular and the nation in general will never be forgotten.”
The Senate President went on to eulogize Adeleke, who served as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market as a consummate reformer, courageous public servant and grassroots politician whose love for his people and commitment to national service remains unparalleled.
“From his track-record as a second term Senator, it is clear that Adeleke was a man who his people trusted to carry out their mandate in the Senate,” he said, “He was always passionate about his work in the legislature, and showed competence, dedication and an ability to work with everyone to bring about the greater good. He will be sorely missed.”
He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the larger Adeleke family, Osun West Senatorial District, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the entire people of the State of Osun.
The Government of Isiaka Adeleke’s State of Osun, on Sunday made it clear that it was still in shock over the sudden death of the first civilian Governor of the state.
The government described as a nightmare, the news of the death of one of the illustrious sons of the state.
In a short statement signed by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the government said the death of Senator Adeleke was hard to accept.
“The sad news of the death of the first civilian governor of our state, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has 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.
“Alhaji Adeleke, no doubt, has served our dear state well. First as its Civilian Governor and currently as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria where he has provided adequate representation for the people of his senatorial district and the state. He was a politician with towering dossier.
“We find this loss inexplicable but we are restrained by the fact that we cannot query the verdicts of our Creator, the Almighty.
“We commiserate with the good people of Osun over this sad loss. We are still in shock,” the statement added.
In a related development, former President of the Senate, David Mark has expressed shock over the death of the senator describing his demise as a painful exit.
In a statement issued by Paul Mumeh, Media Assistant to Senator Mark, the former President of the Senate said “I am shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of my colleague, Senator Isiaka Adeleke . It is just devastating that he is no more.
“Senator Adeleke was a peace maker. He always craved for peace , equity , justice and national unity. Whenever we had challenges and tension in the Senate, Adeleke was always a ready hand to calm frayed nerves .
“A highly principled , focused and resourceful parliamentarian, he always identified with the ordinary people . He fought for the welfare of citizens without compromise . He practiced inclusive politics that provided the greatest benefit to largest number of his constituents.
“For him, politics is noble, a game and a call to serve without bitterness”.
In Adeleke, Senator Mark stated that the Senate and indeed the nation lost a detribalized parliamentarian and one of the best mangers of our democratic project.
“We shall miss his robust contributions to parliamentary debates . We shall miss his unbiased contributions to national issues. We shall miss his humours that were always laced with proverbs.”
In the meantime, the Osun chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), has described the death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke as a great blow to the party.
Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s Publicity Secretary, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Osogbo, said the shock was impossible to overcome.
Oyatomi, a former Editor of Sunday Vanguard, recalled that the late Senator was the first civilian governor of Osun and a two-term senator.
He said that Adeleke was still vibrant until the night of April 22 before his sudden death in the early hours of April 23.
According to him, the party is momentarily shaken and short of words to respond to this tragic event appropriately.
The Osun APC spokesman Oyatomi said, “We advise supporters, friends and family members to summon courage and mourn this fallen hero of Nigerian politics.’’
He, however, called on all citizens of the state irrespective of their political affiliation to show solidarity and empathy with the deceased family.
Similarly, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday described the death of Adeleke as a rude shock.
A statement issued by Mr. Moses Olafare, a media aide to the monarch, said Adeleke’s sudden death was a great loss to the state and the country at large.
A former governor in the state, Mr. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, in a statement in Osogbo, also described Adeleke’s death as a monumental loss.
Oyinlola, who said he was on his way to Osogbo from Lagos when the news was broken to him, said he was still in shock.
He described Adeleke as a brother, friend and confidant whose demise had made him, the state and the political class in Nigeria poorer.
Oyinlola prayed God to grant his soul eternal peace.
The Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party in a statement described Adeleke’s death as shocking and devastating.
The party, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Soji Adagunodo, said Adeleke was a great politician whose impact on the life of the people was noticeable and remarkable.
Adagunodo said the party had declared a three-day mourning for Adeleke, adding that the PDP’s flag in the state would be flown at half mast in honour of the late politician.
Senator Adeleke died at 62 at Bikets Hospital in Osogbo, after suffering a heart attack, according to family sources.
The two-term senator was a former governor of the Osun in the short-lived democratic dispensation under the Babangida administration.
He was born in Enugu on Jan. 15, 1955 to the family of Senator Ayoola Adeleke and Esther Adeleke.
He started his primary education at Christ Church School, Enugu, before moving to Ibadan.
He had his secondary education at Ogbomoso Grammar School and later went to the United States for his university education.
He was Chairman, Governing Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar.
