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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Daily Independent Online.
* Afolabi dies at 70 � Obasanjo, PDP, Wabara, governors, Afenifere pay tribute to former Internal Affairs Minister By Bisi Abidoye Chesa Chesa ( Habib Aruna Tolu Olarewaju ( and Sola Shittu ( An eerie silence enveloped on Monday
the new Bodija, His widow, Beatrice, fought back
tears as she sat in the midst of sympathisers. Both Governors Rashidi Ladoja (Oyo
State) and Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun State) described his death as a rude
shock, coming at a time of encouraging reports about his recovery
from his sick bed in �SM�s death came to us as a rude
shock giving that he was already recovering from his illness. This is a
confirmation that God is the ultimate decider.�
He lived for our nation, he died for our nation,� said Ladoja in his
condolence message at Afolabi�s residence. Oyinlola was more philosophical in
his approach to the death of the former Deputy Governor to late Bola Ige in the
old Others who paid tribute included
President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senate President Adolphus Wabara, Ogun State
Governor Gbenga Daniel, former Justice Minister Richard Akinjide, the People�s
Democratic Party (PDP) and Afenifere, the all-Yoruba socio-cultural
organisation. Obasanjo, in a condolence letter to� the widow, said
the death of Afolabi is� a big loss to
his family, the state and the� nation in
general. He said ``the vacuum created by his
death would�
undoubtedly be difficult to fill,� and urged the widow to seek
consolation in� the Almighty God, in the
knowledge that her husband's� labour has
not been in vain. In the same manner, Wabara said the
death came at a time Afolabi�s wise counsel and services to the nation were
most needed. He described him as a staunch party
man and seasoned politician,�
recalling that Afolabi was one of the champions of PDP victory in
the last general elections, particularly in the South West. Daniel, on his own part, said his
death will be too much for the South West to bear, given the number of leaders
that have passed on this year in the region. To him, Afolabi� was an unrepentant Awoist who believed
in the politics of one-Nigeria; a pragmatic and practical politician. Another
PDP member, Richard Akinjide, felt Afolabi�s passing as a great shock.� �I just found it difficult to believe. He was
a strategist, one of the best from the South West. He was instrumental to our
1983 and 1999 victories. I think the Osun State Government should give him a
state burial. He deserves it,� he said. PDP National Chairman Audu Ogbeh
said the deceased was a �political icon and one of the midwives of our current
democracy,� while Afenifere Secretary General Dayo Adeyeye saw him as
one of the most experienced politicians around, having participated in the
politics of the First, Second, and Third Republics as well as the present
dispensation. Said Adeyeye: �He
was in active politics for more than 40 years. It�s unfortunate that he had to die
at this time because he did not have the opportunity to defend his name against
allegations of corruption and gross abuse of office, for which he was standing
trial before the courts.� Nevertheless,
he made his own contributions towards Before his death, Afolabi and four
others were being prosecuted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for their alleged role in the bribery
scandal that has stained the national identity card project. ICPC Chief Information Officer Mike
Sowe said on Monday that it is too early too to react to his death. �Somebody has just died and it will
not be decent to comment about the pending case against him; it is too early,�
he said. �See
more on Afolabi on A6. |
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