Two prominent members and leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, Adetoye Obele and Dele Osakuade, have been confirmed dead.
While Obele, a former Chairman of the local government died on Tuesday after battling with an undisclosed ailment, Osakuade who was also a council chairman and a former commissioner in the state died on Wednesday morning after a brief sickness.
Asakuade was said to have driven himself to the hospital where he was attended to and discharged the following day.
A source close to the family, however, said Osakuade was informed of the death of Obele on the phone which further affected his health.
He was said to have died some few hours after learning the death of his political associate and friend.
Meanwhile, the PDP in the state has expressed shock over the death of the two party men who were brothers and friends.
The party in a statement signed by its Publicity Director, Zadock Akintoye said “Dele Osakuade, since his emergence as former Chairman of the Ifedore Council and State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in the Dr Olusegun Agagu’s administration, has remained a consistent and an unwavering leader in the PDP and a constant star in the state’s political firmament.
“Our heartfelt condolences, through your office, go to our leaders and members all over the state, particularly in Ifedore and the families of our two departed heroes.
“What more can anyone say, about death, than viewed from the perspectives and in the immortal words of legendary Shakespeare, that it is a necessary end that comes when it will come.
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“While we pray for longer lives for those still in the land of the living, we are consoled by the knowledge of the meaningful lives that our friends lived in the service of humanity. Indeed, of them can it be truly said that “it is not the life that matters, but the courage one puts into it.”
Also, former Commissioner for Information in the state, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, has commiserated with the people of Ifedore local government area of Ondo State over the death of their two illustrious sons and former chairmen of the local government, Engineer Dele Osakuade and Mr Adetoye Obele.
Akinmade said he received news of the passing of the illustrious politicians with shock and disbelief because they died in their prime and said that as community leaders, the two departed politicians had contributed to the development of the local government.
He said: “Osakuade, as Commissioner for Culture and Tourism under the Olusegun Agagu administration, had notable achievements in office, while Obele did his level best to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Ifedore.
“These illustrious sons of Ifedore and notable political gladiators in Ondo State were my personal friends and confidants.
“They passionately loved their community and wanted positive development in the area. Their death is a big loss to Ondo State. They will be sorely missed.
“I commiserate with the leaders of the party in the area, their families and teeming supporters and pray that the Almighty God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”