Nigeria’s Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has described the late ex-governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala as a humane and simple man, who played politics with an open mind.
Professor Osinbajo was among other dignitaries who paid their last respect as the late former governor was laid to rest on Friday in his home town, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, after a church service held at the Beulah Baptist Conference Centre.
He recalled that everywhere Alao-Akala went in his days as governor, there was always the chant of ‘Oyato’, which means he’s different because he did many things differently while in office.
Professor Osinbajo stated; “He significantly improved the IGR of the state from a paltry N300 million to N1 billion in eight months and put in place a very good security architecture. Alao-Akala practically demonstrated what is possible when you have creativity and compassion.”
“Since his transition in January, I have read several glowing tributes to his memory and the common refrain running through all of those tributes has been the attestation to his uncommon generosity. Many testified that his resources were available to all and his home was there for anyone to come for help.”
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, also hailed the late former governor as a great man, who recognised and lived his life in accordance with the Biblical teaching that there is a time and a season for everything under the sun.
Governor Makinde said that the state government would immortalise the late former governor, stressing that a committee headed by his Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, had been put in place to work on how best to honour the late Alao-Akala.
He called for suggestions from well-meaning residents of the state, affirming that within the shortest period of time, his government would ensure that the deceased is adequately honoured.
The Governor praised the former governor for putting aside party differences to work for the progress of the state when he (Makinde) informed him of a plan to flag off the Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin Road.
Governor Makinde said; “In the last conversation I had with Governor Alao-Akala, I called to inform that I would like him to be the one to flag-off the Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin Road project and he said to me, ‘Seyi, just call to give 48 hours notice and I would be there.'”
“He knew there was a time to tear down and a time to rebuild together. The former governor recognised the fact that that particular time was not the time for us to project our political differences but a time to come together in the interest of Oyo State.”
Apart from supporting his family, Governor Makinde said; ”I will also redeem whatever pledge Alao-Akala made to students of the Ogbomoso Baptist Conference College, who also rendered a special song at the funeral service.”
Some of those in attendance at the burial service include; former Senate President, Ken Nnamani; Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Sunday Dare; Governor Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan; Governors Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara) and Prince Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), who were both represented by their Deputy Governors.
Others are; Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), who was represented by his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Donald Ojogor; former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Senators Fatai Buhari and Ayoade Adeseun; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin and former House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola.
Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former governor of Oyo State and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was born on the 3rd of June, 1950, in Ogbomosho in the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State and died on January 12, 2022.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
