The Executive Secretary, National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr Zacch Adedeji, Chief of Staff to Gov Seyi Makinde, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi and Mogaji Joseph Tegbe have described as shocking, the death of former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.
Adedeji, in a statement on Wednesday, said he was in a meeting with Alao-Akala’s at the former governor’s house in Abuja on Monday where discussion centred on Ogbomoso.
“We held the meeting in Abuja on Monday and he was very healthy. He never showed any sign of someone who will die quickly. When he was leaving Abuja for Ogbomoso on Tuesday, he phoned me. I never knew he was saying his final farewell to me.
“During the telephone conversation, he even asked me if I would grace the 70th birthday of his wife, the mother of Olamijuwon, this weekend. I told him I would try and be there. But to hear such a great leader is no more is to be in great shock.
“He would be remembered as a governor who, though passionate about Ogbomoso, spread development projects across other divisions of the state. He was genuinely interested in the development and welfare of others. He was a humane leader, very generous and kind-hearted.
“We will greatly miss him and his very rich experience on governance. There are great testimonies of his good deeds as governor and the numerous people he made what they are today.
“He served God, humanity and fulfilled his dual earthly mandate well. May God repose his noble soul,” Zacch said.
Otunba Ogunwuyi Segun Ebenezer
Chief of staff to Executive Governor of Oyo State in his condolence message said “I received with shock and sadness the news of the death of Former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala. Otunba was a political leader and a seasoned politician who made several impacts in Oyo State and Nigeria politics.
“I commiserate with the sons and daughters of Ajilete and the good people of Oyo State on his demise. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace and may God grant the family the much- needed strength to bear the irreparable loss.
Mogaji Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress APc said “Otunba Alao Akala was a father figure to me and my wife Abímbólá; one whom we valued beyond politics.
“His life was testimony of doggedness and a source of inspiration to many in the political world. The former Governor will be sorely missed by members of the APC, the people of Ogbomoso, the state and Nigeria at large.
He however commiserate with the state Governor and the entire state on the loss of our former Governor. I pray that Almighty God grants repose to his soul and keep the family he left behind
