It was the wish of Adebayo Alao Akala, former governor of Oyo state, to die in his hometown of Ogbomoso, Diran Odeyemi, his special adviser on media while he was governor has revealed.
Odeyemi, who explained that the All Progressives Congress, APC, had no premonitions of death as he gave family and friends no signs that he was about to journey to the great beyond, added that there was indeed, no reason for family members or friends to get worried.
Alao-Akala, 71, died in the early hours of today.
He had returned to Ogbomoso yesterday via the Ilorin airport was billed to return to Ibadan today.
According to the former deputy national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alao-Akala, “had in many instances remarked that he would like to breathe his last in Ogbomoso and he was in Abuja for about five days and didn’t die there , he got to Ogbomoso on Tuesday night and he died in the hometown that he loved so much.
“While serving as governor of Oyo state, it was the normal thing for us to leave Ibadan for Ogbomoso every Friday. He actually loved his people truly,” he said.
Describing the news of Alao-Akala’s death as shocking, Odeyemi said Nigeria has lost one of its ‘effective leaders.’
He said the deceased was someone who was instrumental to his political emancipation in Nigeria, adding that Alao-Akala would be remembered for many positive things including his philanthropy.
“I am not from Oyo state but two hours after he became the governor sequel to Chief Rasidi Ladoja’s impeachment, he telephoned me and said I should leave London for Nigeria immediately.
“He told me that I will serve as his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy.
“He was a socialite, a master strategist, a philanthropist and a very pious man.
“He empowered many people including journalists; we ensured five slots were given to journalists every year for holy pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Mecca.
“He bought houses and cars for many journalists but you will not know because he will not make it public.
“We were in London one day and he entered a store and bought the most expensive camera there for his cameraman.
“As the one in charge of the media, I was aware how he changed the lives of many journalists, he was extremely generous once he knows you, he must definitely do something to change your life.
“He loved me dearly, there was no where he visited outside the country as governor that I didn’t join him, he will be sorely missed’ he said.
“Unknown to them that it would be their last meeting, Osun state PDP gubernatorial aspirant, former Senator Ademola Adeleke and associates had paid a ‘friendly’ visit to Akala’s Samora Machel Street, Asokoro Abuja residence on Sunday, 9 January 2022.”
