By Baron Ike
Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who died on Sunday, April 23, has been buried.
He was buried in his country home, Ede, Osun State in line with Islamic injunction.
The Osun State House of Assembly has declared Monday (April 24) to Wednesday (April 26) as mourning period in honour of the late senator, who was the first Civilian Governor of Osun State.
Adeleke, a serving senator and three-term senator elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, died at the age of 62.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State were among the dignitaries that graced his burial.
Meanwhile, the APC said it received news of the death Adeleke with shock and grief.
The Party expressed deep sympathies to the immediate family, people and government of Osun State over late Adeleke’s death. It did in a statement signed by the APC BNational Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi on Monday, April 24.
Abdullahi wrote: “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 recall 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.”
Also, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has expressed shock and deep sense of loss over the death of Adeleke, the Senator who represented Osun West Senatorial District.
Ekweremadu, who described the deceased as a perfect gentleman and patriot, noted that the incident was a grave loss, not only to the Senate and the good people of Osun State, but also the entire nation.
He said: “I am in rude shock over this sad development. It is like a rainstorm at the height of dry season.
“Distinguished Adeleke was a brother and friend. He was cosmopolitan in nature and started his education in Enugu, my State. This nature showed in his broadminded approach to debates and national issues, which stood him out as a statesman and pan-Nigerian.
“With him as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I found a willing partner, as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the 6th Senate in our collective effort to reposition the nation’s electoral system. He will be remembered for the gains of those reforms as witnessed in the 2011 and 2015 general elections”.
The Deputy President of the Senate condoled with the family of the late Senator as well as the government and people of Osun State.
He also praying for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed.