Aregbesola: Osun’ll give Adeleke befitting burial

Former gov’s death tears Osun APC apartOsun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, at the weekend disclosed that the state government would give the first civilian governor of the state, late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, a befitting burial.

The governor in a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communication, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said: “We will continue to mourn the untimely death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He is irreplaceable in our hearts.We commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends, constituents and the generality of our people on the passage of this patriot.As we pray for the repose of his soul, we equally pray for the strength to bear this heavy loss. “We are still in shock and great pain over the transition of our friend, associate and brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.He was a prominent son of our state and its first democratically elected governor. Until his death, he was the senator representing Osun West in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.” Meanwhile, the death of the former governor, last week had torn the state’s chapter of the All Progressive Party (APC) apart.The death of Adeleke, which had thrown the state into confusion, hadpolarized members of the party and its chieftains. In fact, there was a major crack among the leadership of the party who felt deeply concerned about the demise of the late politician. Why some of them alleged that both Adeleke and the deputy speaker of the House of Representative, Hon. Lasun Yusuff, who is also vying for the gubernatorial seat in the state in 2018, had earlier been warned by the Chairman of the APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun, to withdraw their intention of contesting for the seat under the platform of the party, supporters of the party chairman described the claim as untrue.It will be recalled that Yusuff, in a press conference last Saturday in Osogbo, alleged that some chieftains within the party were after his life.Speaking through his Special Advisers on Constituency Matters and Relations Office, Dr. Yomi Ajala and Hon. Yomi Ajala in Osogbo, he said since he indicated interest to run for the state governorship election, different death threats have been issued on his head.Also, workers in the state yesterday said the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and that of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had directed their members to converge the residence of the late Senator Adeleke to mark the eight day fidau of his death.Sources close to the union leaders, who revealed this to New Telegraph in Osogbo, said that there would be no activity at the state sports stadium for this year’s May Day celebration, adding that all that would be done by the workers is to move to Adeleke’s country home in Ede to commiserate with the family.The informed sources further quoted the leadership of the unions to have charged all workers to make themselves available at the deceased country home.However, while reacting to the claim, Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Adekomi Jacob stated that it was true that NLC and TUC would be at Adeleke’s residence today to associate with the late family members, but said that it was only the two unions chairmen and secretaries that would represent all members at the fidau programme