Ex-aviation minister, Babalola Borishade, dies at 71

A former Minister of Aviation and Education, Professor Babalola ‎Borishade, is dead.

A short statement from his family, signed by Olamide Borishade, which announced the death of the former minister, said he “passed into eternal glory on 26th April, 2017 after a brief illness” at the age of 71.

Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, in a reaction to the death, described it as “a great loss to the political class, the people of Ekiti State and the country in general.”

Fayose, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, described Borishade as “a consistent politician who stood for what he believed in,” and added that “the death of Dr Babalola Borishade ‎was not only sudden, but a rude shock.”

He said: “Our state and indeed our nation still expected a lot from him given his experience and wide network in the political circle. He served the nation in a number of capacities and was not found wanting.”

Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state, the home local government of the Kate Borishade, Chief Ayodele Arogbodo, described his death as “a big shock and an unbelievable blow to Usi-Ekiti,” saying “we are still wondering how we can recover from the shock and fill the vacuum his death would create in Usi-Ekiti and the state at large.”

Professor Borishade was born in Usi-Ekiti, Ido-Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State on March 7, 1946 into the Ebi Ilotin Family.