The Majority Leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Magaji Abubakar Olawoyin, is dead.
Olawoyin, who represented Ilorin Central State Constituency, died in the early hours of Monday after a brief illness at the age of 56.
This is coming with less than eight weeks to the Nigerian general elections, which Olawoyin was the APC Candidate for Ilorin-Central State Constituency.
The funeral prayer and the burial of the deceased will hold at 4.00pm in Ilorin, the state capital.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youth, Sports and Tourism, Awolola Ayokunle, confirmed the death of Olawoyin in a statement.
“The Kwara State House of Assembly announce with regret the demise of Hon. Magaji Abubakar Olawoyin, member representing Ilorin Central State Constituency and Leader of the House. Ths sudden event occurred in the early hours of Monday 9th January, 2023 after a brief illness.
“Janazah will hold at 4pm at Magajin Geri family house, Surulere, Ilorin. May Allah repose his soul in Jannatu Firdauz,” Ayokunle said in the statement.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor, Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has commiserated with the family of Abubakar Magaji Olawoyin and the 9th Kwara State House of Assembly over the death of the House Leader, describing the incident as sad and shocking.
“I commiserate with the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, his immediate and extended family, the entire people of Magaji Ngeri/Ilorin Central State Constituency. I especially send our condolences to the House whose Leader Olawoyin was until his death this morning. We will miss in him a grassroots politician, a core party man, and a great lawmaker who truly distinguished himself as the Leader of the 9th House of Assembly,” the Governor said.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, the governor prayed Almighty Allah to forgive and grant Olawoyin Paradise.
Also, the forum of former lawmakers in the Kwara State House of Assembly has expressed shock over the sudden passage of the Majority Leader of the 9th Assembly.
The ex- lawmakers, in a statement, signed by the forum’s chairman and secretary, Dr. Abraham Ashaolu and Isiaka Mogaji respectively, described the death of Magaji as shocking.
“We are saddened to receive the news of the passage of this young Nigerian, Abubakar Olawoyin Magaji, who until his death, was the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly and member, representing Ilorin-Central State Constituency in the House, between May, 2019 to January 9, 2023 under the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC”, it added.
The forum, however described the deceased as a great community leader who prioritized the welfare of his people and committed to the development of parliamentary democracy in the State in particular and the Country at large.
The forum sympathised with the deceased’s immediate family, especially his wife and children.
