The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Economic Matters, deployed to the Vice-President’s office, Ayodele Adu, died in an Indian hospital on Friday.
The Minister of Solid Mineral Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, confirmed the death of the 44-year-old presidential aide in a condolence message issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olayinka Oyebode.
Fayemi, who expressed shock and sadness, described Adu’s death as a personal loss to him and a major loss to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria in general.
The minister stated that the deceased, who served as a board member of the Fountain Company Limited of the Ekiti state government when he was governor, was a man of courage, character and conviction.
“He was a distinguished Nigerian, an honourable Ekiti man, who, through hard work and determination, worked his way to the top of his professional calling and left marks of excellence on every assignment he undertook,” Fayemi said.
“He was a man of courage, character and conviction, who had a great passion for the Ekiti Project. It is indeed a painful loss. We shall surely miss him.’’
He prayed that Almighty God would grant him eternal rest and give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also mourned Adu.
A statement by his media aide reads: “With heavy hearts, we regret to announce the untimely passage of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Economic Matters, Mr. Ayoleke O. Adu. He was aged 44.
“Adu, a diligent economic professional and Certified Financial Analyst, CFA, passed on last week Saturday after a period of illness.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on behalf of the President and himself, condoles with his wife, children, mother and the entire family. He prays that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Before he joined the Buhari presidency last year, Adu was the Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Capital Securities Ltd, a leading investment firm with headquarters in Lagos.
“As a member of the President’s Economic Management Team and a presidential aide deployed to the Office of the Vice President, Adu would be remembered as a patriotic, forthright, creative and astute professional. He will indeed be sorely missed”.
