Aregbesola, Ooni, others mourn lawmaker

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has condoled with the family of a member of the House of Assembly, Oladejo Samson Makinde, who died at 48.

Makinde was the Minority Leader and represented Ife Central. He died on Sunday after a brief illness.

In a condolence message by the Director of the Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the death as sudden and shocking.

The governor, who prayed for the repose of the lawmaker’s soul, extended his “profound condolence to the  family, members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the people”.

Aregbesola urged the Speaker, other lawmakers and family to take with equanimity the loss.

He said death was an inevitable end for everyone.

The Chairman, Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, in a statement, said: “It is shocking that the late Makinde died at this critical period that he is needed in his immediate and political family.

“In Osun Assembly, we are really saddened to hear of the death of one of us.

“We will mourn deeply his passing due to his valuable contributions to deliberations in the Assembly.

“Politics apart, his oppositional engagement as a minority leader has assisted the Sixth Assembly to arrive at reasonable conclusions on several issues.”

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in a message by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, described Makinde as a gentleman endowed with attributes of “Omoluabi’’.

According to him, his positive impacts will remain indelible on the minds of not only inhabitants of Ile-Ife but the entire state, having patriotically served as Ife Central Local Government boss.

The monarch said: “He left us when his courage and carriage would have been of immense benefit to Ile-Ife and Osun. We pray his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”

The PDP in a statement by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, in Osogbo, described the deceased as “ a courageous and thorough breed party man,” who has proven over the years unmatched attributes of a responsible and responsive leader.

Makinde, the House Committee Chairman on Regional Integration and Special Duties, died at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital.

He is survived by an aged mother, wife and children.

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