Adeleke: Protest in Ede as family insists on autopsy; NTA reporter attacked; Saraki, Aregbesola, Omisore, APC shocked; PDP declares three-day mourning

There was pandemonium in Ede, Osun State on Sunday when news filtered in that the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, died in the early hours of the day.
On Saturday, Adeleke was in Kuta, Ayedire Local Government area of the state for a social function.
He was seen cracking jokes with the deputy governor of the South-West state, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, and some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He left the party in the evening for his town only for news to hit his followers that he died on Sunday morning of heart attack.
A source said when Adeleke, Chairman of Senate Committee on Capital Market, complained of discomfort, he was rushed to Biket Hospital where he gave up the ghost.
The news led to protests by Ede youths. Bonfires were made at strategic locations as security agents battled to contain the situation.
Neighbouring towns were also affected.
One of the youths was heard saying that the Senator ‘was killed with juju’.
Some of the youths said Adeleke was poisoned “to pave the way for another APC governorship aspirant”.
It is believed Adeleke was nursing the ambition of returning to Oke-Fia Government House, Osogbo in 2019.
The 62-year-old politician was governor between 1992 and 1993 in the Third Republic.
Some of the angry youths attacked Mr Tope Alabi, a  correspondent of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in  Osogbo.
The  NTA reporter, who was  at the residence of ‘Serubawon’ as the politician was called with his cameraman, was attacked by youths for recording  the  faces of   sympathisers.
The youths,  who alleged that  the  late senator was poisoned, opposed  video coverage of the event.
Alabi was assaulted  on the  head  and had to be taken to  Osogbo for treatment while his cameraman escaped to a nearby bush.
Security  had, however,  been beefed up at the  residence  as family members  and friends awaited  the  burial of the late politician.
An Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed very close to Adeleke’s house  while a  police  vehicle was sighted  patrolling the town.
When the corpse was brought to his house in Ede, family members insisted on an autopsy.
A huge crowd of sympathisers and family members were seen weeping uncontrollably on sighting the corpse of the late flamboyant politician and socialite.
It  was, however,   later taken  to Ladoke Akintola Teaching hospital in Osogbo for autopsy.
Motorists were seen with green leaves as sign of solidarity in Osogbo and other towns.
A two-term senator, Adeleke had  won  the Osun West senatorial seat  on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)   in  2007.
He, however, defected from the PDP  in the build up to the 2015 general elections  and won again on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The State Government said it was still in shock over the sudden death of Adeleke.
In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the government said the death of Adeleke is 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.  
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Sunday described Adeleke  as  a patriotic statesman.
Saraki, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the death of the two-term senator was “shocking and a personal loss.’’
He said  Adeleke,  who was the first civilian  governor of Osun, was an important figure in the 8th Senate.
Saraki also said: “My heart goes out to the family of Sen. Adeleke and the people of the great State of Osun.
“Adeleke was a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, good family man and complete gentleman whose contributions to the development of Osun State in particular and the nation in general will never be forgotten.”
The senate president described   the late lawmaker,  who served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market,  as  a consummate reformer and  courageous public servant.
He added that the late senator was a grassroots politician whose love for his people and commitment to national service remained 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 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 said.
Saraki commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the larger Adeleke family, Osun West Senatorial District, Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the entire people of Osun as well as  the 8th National Assembly.
Senator Iyiola Omisore also described the death as shocking. He said the death was a great loss not only to the people of Osun State but also to Nigeria’s political class.
Omisore, in a statement he personally signed, said the death of Adeleke “was both shocking and deeply confounding, as no one could imagine such happening. Many of us are still in shock over this sad development,” he stated.
He described Adeleke as “a dogged and generous politician who put the interest of the masses above his own personal desire”.
“He was an illustrious son of Edeland and Osun State, a kind and generous person. But only God knows best. May Allah grant him Aljanah Firdaus,” he stated.
Omisore while commiserating with the people of Edeland, Osun State and members of the National Assembly, Omisore prayed to God to grant his family members and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), in a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party received the news with shock and grief.
The party expressed deep sympathies to the immediate family, people and government of Osun State over Adeleke’s death.
The statement reads: “The late two-time Senator who served in the present 8th Senate as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Capital Market was a detrabalised Nigerian, he was a democrat, an astute grassroots politician and philanthropist who distinguished himself in all positions of service he occupied.
“The history of Osun State would be incomplete without copious reference to late Adeleke’s contributions to the State’s social, political and economic development as its first  elected Governor.
“The Party recalls with pride that the establishment of a polytechnic at Iree, a College of Technology at Esa-Oke and the completion of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) are some of the notable legacies the late Adeleke’s administration bequeathed during his short stint as governor of the then newly-created Osun State.
“He was exemplary as Chairman, Governing Council, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Calabar, Nigeria as well as in several strategic Senate committees, viz: Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Integration and Cooperation, Housing and Air Force where he served as member. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the late Adeleke’s efforts at electoral reforms are noteworthy.
“With the death of Senator Adeleke, Nigeria has indeed lost an illustrious son whose wealth of experience was still needed as the present APC-led administration works to restore the country to path of progress.
“The party is, however, consoled by the fact that the late Adeleke lived an accomplished and impactful life. May the Almighty God give the late Adeleke eternal rest and the family, the strength to bear the great loss.
The Osun State chapter of APC described the death as a great blow to the party.
Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party’s Publicity Secretary, said the shock was impossible to overcome.
He said that Adeleke was still vibrant until April 22 night, 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.
“We advise supporters, friends and family members to summon courage and mourn this fallen hero of Nigerian politics.’’
Oyatomi, however, called on all citizens of the state, irrespective of their political affiliation to show solidarity and empathy with the deceased family.
A chieftain of APC from Osun West Senatorial District, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, expressed shock and sadness over the death.
In a condolence message on his social media pages, the politician said: “We lost a gem, a great leader, a charismatic mobiliser, a man of the people. We lost a great leader whose commitment to grassroots development is unrivalled, whose political brand changed the face of Osun politics”
He described Adeleke as “a leader of mercurial and sterling qualities who contributed immensely to the development of Osun state and Nigeria in general.  
“He combined urbane politicking with grassroot entrenchment,earning accolades from far and near. His political flamboyance revolved around thorough care and responsiveness for his constituents,far and near.
  It is sad that his exit was as turbulent as his entrance into Osun politics during SDP days”,the media entrepreneur said.
While symphatising with the Adeleke family, the government and people  of Osun State as well as members of All Progressive Congress, Rasheed prayed that almighty Allah grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss. 
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the death as shocking and very devastating.
The party has, therefore, declared a three-day mourning and an immediate suspension of all party activities across the state while the PDP flag will be flown at half mast in honour of the former governor who was once a senator on the platform of the party.
A statement by the State Chairman, Hon. Soji Adagunodo, described the senator representing Osun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly as a grassroots politician whose impact on the life of the people was noticeable and remarkable.
Adagunodo said the death of Adeleke in the early hours of Sunday “marks the end of an era in the annals of Osun State”.
According to the PDP chairman, the late senator was unequalled in charisma, generousity and courage and will be missed across party lines.
He added that his brief tenure as Osun State Governor witnessed remarkable achievements in all spheres while his subsequent contributions to the development of the state was undeniable.
While condoling with the Adeleke family of Ede and the entire people of Osun state, the state PDP prays that the Almighty Allah will grant eternal rest in Aljanah to the late Asiwaju of Ede and comfort his entire family and associates.