Oyo: Buhari, Sunmonu, Olowofela condole Makinde over death of commissioner

Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District has condoled with the Seyi Makinde -led Oyo State government over the demise of its Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola.

Hon. Ayoola, who was the first Speaker of the 4th Oyo State House of Assembly died in the early hours of Thursday after a brief illness in an undisclosed hospital in Ibadan, the state capital, Mega Icon Magazine gathered.

In a statement on Thursday, Senator Buhari lamented that the Commissioner died at a time when his contribution is required by serving the state. He identified the deceased as a visionary politician who used his timely opportunity, especially between 1999 and 2003 to serve people of the state diligently.

The lawmaker, however enjoined politicians especially in Oyo State never to delay their contributions toward the betterment of the state, just as he admonished that everyone will encounter death at an unexpected time.

He prayed that God Almighty will give his family, the state government and his loved ones the fortitude to bear the sudden death.

Other eminent personalities including former Senator Monsurat Sunmonu have also expressed their condolences to Governor Makinde over the death of his Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources.

Senator Sunmonu also lamented the sudden passing of the former Speaker of State House of Assembly in a release made available to newsmen on Thursday’s evening.

According to the release, Sunmonu who hails alongside the deceased from Oyo town said the demise of Ayoola has accidentally created a huge vacuum in the intellectual and political circles which would take a very long time to fill.

She described the late Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources as a brilliant mind whose foresight and advocacy as a principled technocrat during his lifetime has been tremendously paying off in having a functional society through democratic systems.

Sunmonu therefore commiserated with Governor Seyi Makinde over the loss of his age long close confidant and one of the key cabinet members of the State Executives Council.

Similarly, the first female Speaker of the State Assembly who also represented Oyo Central Senatorial District between 2015- 2019 also condoled with the Alaafin of Oyo, the Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the bereaved indigenes of Oyo town and the entire residents of the State for the unforeseen passage of the renowned agriculturist and public affairs analyst.

The statement in conclusion prayed for the repose of the soul of the late politician and gratification of fortitude for the bereaved family and friends to bear the irreparable loss necessitated by the demise of the late Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources.

Also commenting, the Commissioner representing the state at the Federal Character Commission, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela, expressed shock over the death of Ayoola. While extolling the virtues of the late Commissioner, the APC chieftain described him as a committed cabinet member.

Olowofela, however commiserated with the state government for loosing a rare gem.

“Honourable Kehinde Ayoola, may your soul rest in peace. I found it extremely difficult to believe when I heard. I commiserate with the Government of Oyo-State, for loosing a committed cabinet member, with Alaafin of Oyo and entire Oyo town – your origin, your wife and children for vacuum created by the loss of a loving husband and father, your church for loosing a worker in the vine yard and Ido Local Government for loosing one of the most influential Landlords.

“Rest in peace brother – life indeed is ephemeral”, Olowofela submitted.