To say that the news of the sudden demise of the former Governor of
Osun State and a serving Senator of the Federal Republic hit his colleagues like a thunderbolt would look like an understatement. The Osun lawmaker, a two time Senator was already being looked upon as an addition to the class of Senators who left the Red Chamber to the Government Houses.
Through his reach and potential, Senator Adeleke was already being seen as a candidate to beat in the Osun Governorship contest slated for 2018. The man, who once served as Chairman Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), served as the chairman Committee on Capital Market until his last breath on Sunday.
He was one of the 108 (one seat is outstanding) Senators expected to return to the chamber after the Easter recess and then continue the passage process of the 2017 budget. But as fate would have it, he slumped and died early on Sunday, taking with him the unfulfilled dream of a return to Osun Government House.
That Adeleke would be highly missed by the Senate is like stating the obvious. He would be sorely missed by Senators on the two divides; the ruling party and the opposition. He had carried himself with dignity all through his stay in the Red Chamber and you can hardly distinguish between his tenure as a Senator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the present tenure, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), kick started in June 2015.
The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, immediately led the way in the outpouring of condolences. Saraki, in a message described the demise of the first civilian governor of Osun State as “a sad personal loss.” He stated that the late Senator was an important figure in the Eighth Senate. He said: “My heart goes out to the family of Senator Adeleke, and the people of the great State of Osun. Adeleke was a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, good family man and complete gentleman whose contributions to the development of Osun State in particular and the nation in general will never be forgotten.”
Saraki also described Adeleke as a consummate reformer, courageous public servant and grassroots politician whose love for his people and commitment to national service remained unparalleled.
The Senate President further said: “From his track-record as a second term Senator, it is clear that Adeleke was a man who his people trusted to carry out their mandate in the Senate.
“He was always passionate about his work in the legislature, and showed competence, dedication and an ability to work with everyone to bring about the greater good. He will be sorely missed.”
He also commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased Senator, the entire Adeleke family, Osun West Senatorial District, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, the entire people of the State of Osun as well as the Vice Chairman and members of the Senate Committee on Capital Market and indeed the Senate for the huge loss.
Saraki’s immediate predecessor in office, Senator David Mark also expressed shock and sadness over what he called the untimely death of the Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
“I am shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of my colleague, Senator Isiaka Adeleke,” said David Mark in a condolence message made public by his Media Adviser, Paul Mumeh.
He added that it was just devastating to hear that Adeleke is no more. Mark further said: “Senator Adeleke was a peace maker. He always craved for peace, equity, justice and national unity. Whenever we had challenges and tension in the Senate, Adeleke was always a ready hand to calm frayed nerves.
“A highly principled, focused and resourceful parliamentarian, he always identified with the ordinary people. He fought for the welfare of citizens without compromise. He practised inclusive politics that provided the greatest benefit to largest number of his constituents.
“For him, politics is noble, a game and a call to serve without bitterness. Adeleke always deployed wisdom and diplomatic strategy to drive home his points needed to provide dividend of democracy to his people.
“We shall miss his robust contributions to parliamentary debates. We shall miss his unbiased contributions to national issues. We shall miss his humours that were always laced with proverbs.”
The former Senate President also said that Adeleke typified a detribalised lawmaker and one of the best mangers of the democratic project. He said that the parliament would sorely miss him. He stated that besides the parliament, Adeleke would be remembered as the first civilian governor of Osun State who laid the foundation for the development of the state. Mark’s Deputy when he served as Senate President, Senator Ekweremadu Ike Ekweremadu who is also the incumbent Deputy President of the Senate, expressed shock and deep sense of loss and sorrow at the death of the Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District.
Ekweremadu, who described the deceased as a perfect gentleman and patriot, noted that the incident was a grave loss, not only to the Senate and the good people of Osun State, but also the entire nation.
He said: “I am in rude shock over this sad development. It is like a rainstorm at the height of dry season.
“Distinguished Adeleke was a brother and friend. He was cosmopolitan in nature and started his education in Enugu, my state. This nature showed in his broadminded approach to debates and national issues, which stood him out as a statesman and pan-Nigerian.
“With him as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I found a willing partner, as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the sisth Senate in our collective effort to reposition the nation’s electoral system. He will be remembered for the gains of those reforms as witnessed in the 2011 and 2015 general elections.”
Senator Ekweremadu also condoled with the family of the late Senator as well as the government and people of Osun State, while praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.
A colleague of Adeleke in the Sixth Senate, who sat beside the Osun politician in the chamber, Senator Smart Adeyemi said that the late Adeleke was an extremely human and humble man.
According to him, a number of persons could easily misinterpret his intimidating caps for a sign of arrogance, but deep within Adeleke, he was a humble man. “He never showed bias to anyone and was always seeking the progress of his people and the development of Nigeria. We will all miss this quintessential lawmaker and politician,” Adeyemi said.
While a number of Adeleke’s colleagues in the Eight Senate might have decided to defer their tributes to the Senate floor, a number of them are already volunteering comments about the late Senator.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Metallurgy and Steel Development, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who represents Abia South Senatorial District described Adeleke as a friend and brother (apparently by virtue of Adeleke’s maternal roots to Ukwa, Abia state) said that the news was difficult to believe.
“He was a personal friend and it is difficult to come to that reality that he is no more. But we have to accept the verdict of God Almighty and thank Him for giving us a Senator Adeleke, who did well while on earth,” Abaribe said.
Another colleague of Adeleke, Senator Gbenga Ashafa(APC Lagos East) also described the demise of the Osun Senator as a huge shock, adding that he received the news a with a deep sense of loss and shock.
He said that the late Senator Adeleke was a man of uncommon passion for his constituency, state and Nigeria.
Ashafa said in a condolence: “I enjoyed the benefit of his wise counsel time and again and would definitely miss his sagacious personality on the floor of the Senate.
“My heart and prayers remain with his family members, his constituents and indeed the entire government and good people of the State of Osun at this time of grief.”
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