Glowing tributes were rendered for the late former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala; late Ashigangan of Iganganland, Oba Olawuyi Adeoye; late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji at Tuesday’s plenary of the Oyo State House of Assembly.
Each lawmaker who rose on the floor of the Assembly, rendered words and tales about how the three personalities, in different ways, impacted lives, develop their various domains, lived fulfilled lives and lived in true service of mankind.
The rendition of tributes was followed with a one minute silence called by Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin.
In her tribute to a man, she described as her “leader, godfather, mentor, destiny helper,” Honourable Olawumi Oladeji of Ogbomoso North constituency lamented the loss of a “gem, colossus, a jolly good fellow” in Alao-Akala.
She noted that Alao-Akala stood out as a man who believed in local content in governance, whose politics was ensuring people prospered under him such that many became millionaires through his populist programmes.
“He was one politician who knew too well, how to be a political opponent without being a sworn enemy, a lesson that many have failed to learn. Alao-Akala had an incredible ability to forgive and many took advantage of it: he quickly let bygones be bygones.” Oladeji added.
Speaking, Majority leader of the Assembly, Honourable Sanjo Adedoyin described the late former governor as an encyclopedia of grassroots politics and one who was keen on development across the state.
Adedoyin prayed the state government to consider naming after Alao-Akala one of the state institutions: Ogbomoso-Iseyin road, Oyo State College of Agriculture or the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital.
Minority Leader, Honourable Asimiyu Alarape, who served as Political Adviser to Alao-Akala, remarked that the former governor was a socialist, colossus and one who raised the economy of Ogbomoso, his hometown, and Oyo State, at large.
In his remarks, a member representing Ogo Oluwa/Surulere constituency, Honourable Simeon Adegbola said there was no one like Alao-Akala in the history of Ogbomoso since the death of another Ogbomoso indigene, Samuel Ladoke Akintola in 1966.
