Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has described the late former governor of the state, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, as the most experienced politician the state has ever produced.
The governor stated this when he visited the family of the late politician in his Ogbomoso country home on Thursday.
Alao-Akala died in Ogbomoso in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 71.
Makinde, who presented a condolence letter to Alao-Akala family, said: “We are here this afternoon on behalf of the government and people of Oyo State to condole with the family of our leader, brother and mentor, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.”
He described the deceased as “the most experienced politician the state has ever produced, a grassroots man, who rose from a local government chairman to become deputy governor; from there to acting governor and then to governor.
“Who else has that kind of credentials in the state?” he queried.
Makinde, who said that his relationship with Akala was cordial, added: “though people may think that politically, we are not together, but in terms of love for our state, we are together.”
On Alao-Akala’s sudden death, the governor said that no one could question God.
“I spoke with him four or five days ago, requesting him to flag off Ogbomoso-Iseyin road.
“He accepted to do it and told me to give him a 48-hour notice when I choose the date and I was looking forward to it. But, who are we to question God? It is not how long but how well.
“Alao-Akala loved this state so much and he did his best as governor. It is not only his family or Ogbomoso people that will miss him, but the entire people of the state,” he said.
Makinde promised that his government would be involved in all the preparations toward the burial of the former governor.
Responding on behalf of the family, son of the deceased, Olamiju Alao-Akala, appreciated the governor for the visit.
He described his father as a great man whose good deeds would always be remembered.
Also speaking, former Chief of Staff to Alao-Akala, Dr Saka Balogun, described his former boss as a kind-hearted man who had impacted several lives through his special style of ensuring people’s welfare.
On his part, Chairman of PDP in the state, Chief Dayo Ogungbenro, described Alao-Akala as a leader who represented the face of humanity in politics, stressing losing him was beyond politics but that it affected the entire state.
Among the dignitaries at the home of the late Alao-Akala were Senator Teslim Folarin and an APC chieftain, Mr Isaac Omodewu.
