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.
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