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Tag: Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

  • Adeleke: Two years after

    As said in Isaiah 3: 10, “tell the righteous, it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruits of their deeds”. On April 23, 2017, the eagle flew home in a blaze of glory and the world, literarily stood still. Two years after his glorious transition, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, spirit continues to enjoy peace of the Almighty God, the unfailing and unalloyed loyalty of his well-wishers. His dreams and aspiration of selfless service to humanity remain undying, but rather blossomed, as people of goodwill, who believe in his dignified personality and political acumen, are holding the front contended and the flag flying high. Asia Isiaka Adeleke, lele lo nfe.

    There is no dull moment for his sweet memory. Each passing day keeps him evergreen in the minds of his teaming admirers across the world. Why not, if not? He worked for such feat, while he was with us. Senator Isiaka Adeleke well-wishers are daily trying to outdo themselves to make his everlasting legacies endure and sweet memory to linger on. They are yet to come to terms with the reality of his transition. But the first executive governor of Osun State is resting peacefully in the bosom of Allah, his creator.

    The Central Mosque built in his honour by his esteem family, is now blessed with worshippers from the nooks and crannies of Edeland. The craving every Friday Jumat Service, is for Muslim adherents to secure a place in the magnificent mosque, just to give God the honour and a feeling of having him among them. This is one enduring legacy, that was put in place by his family and which will outlive everyone of us still around before we join him. During his lifetime, he did not surround himself with pessimistic people or those who distrust God’s promises. He did not, when there were times of crises, which were very few and there was cause for worry and anxiety, yield himself to the hearing of fear. In such times, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, desperately turned to God in prayers, standing on the irrevocable promises of God, that He will never abandon His own. The late Asiwaju of Edeland believed in the mighty power, that changes every situation for the best. And he in turn  gave the best services to humanity. Isiaka Adeleke was one of the limited edition of human beings, with solid reputation and character and without any scandal.

    In the last two years of his glorious transition, many people are still testifying to his good naturedness and how he brought hope unto their lives, even when everything seemed hopeless. Such people are still trusting, that his illuminating spirit lives with them at this end.

    A top traditional ruler in Osun State, whose domain  bestowed  a sterling chieftaincy title on him many years ago, in a recent chat with this writer, described Asiwaju Isiaka Adeleke as an achiever in his own right, who was singularly lucky to have enjoyed God’s special grace and mercy in all his endervours. The foremost monarch also described Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as a likeable and lovable personality, even as first sight. The voice of the people is the voice of God.

    There is no denying the fact, that so many other highly and lowly placed people in the society are daily singing his praise. Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke did not for once expose the weaknesses of people around him even when he knew they were up to a ‘game’. He tolerated every shortcomings of different human beings that came across him.

    Senator Isiaka Adeleke cherished friendship and comradeship. We will always remember his comforting words. We will always remember his soothing touch. His legacy of love, care and commitment to the people around him will always remain engraved in our hearts. The society at large will remember him as a virtous man, whose greatness impacted positively on their lives.

    Though he primed himself to come back and serve Osun People as their governor, that dream is not over yet and Senator Isiaka Adeleke will, by God’s grace, soon hear good news to that effect. His political spirit is fighting that cause, in addition to God’s mercy, the unfailing loyalty and unflinching love of the people of Osun State for him as a pay back time, for all his selfless goodness to them when he was alive. Political activism is reigning supreme among his supporters. His political structure is waxing stronger on daily basis.

    The Adeleke University, Ede where he was the first chancellor, is presently dotting the Is and the crossing Ts of a world-class biography in his honour. Whenever t is glamorously launched and presented to the public, it will refreshen and enliven the minds of the generality of the people about the life and time of humanness of Senator Isiaka Adeleke. It will also be a must for many homes, institutions and public libraries.

    The Lagos Civil Service Club Ikeja, of which he was a distinguish member during his life time has organised a tournament in his honour at its newly rehabilitated Court to mark his second transition anniversary on April 20, 2019.

    Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke’s clear vision and ideology of others first, self last, should continue to be sustained by all and sundry. Not only in Nigeria, is the memory of the first Executive Governor of Osun State been celebrated. Not long ago, his admirers in an Asian Country conferred on him, the title of Supreme Commander of politics without bitterness, while another Nigeria Society in Philippines, conferred on the Late Otunba of Ejigbo, the title of GENERALISMO of the down trodden people. That is the man of the people, fondly remembered in far-flung areas of the world, because he rose above petty political squabbles and gave his golden heart to his people

    We all salute your life of simplicity and kindness. A life of live and let others live, as a promoter of life more abundant for all. His Excellency, Isiaka Adeleke was an enigma, that transited at God’s own appointment time when the ovation was loudest, but whose fragrance of presence we felt everyday. Senator Isiaka Adeleke, gave us cause to believe, that life without recourse to the upliftment of mankind, is a worthless life. He taught us to give to charity, even if it is only with a flash of smile to the needy, the oppressed and the voiceless in the society to uplift their spirit. These are qualities the late Asiwaju of Edeland amply demonstrated throughout his lifetime. We give glory to God for all the immeasurable good deeds, that he put in place. They are simply indelible. We thank God, that he lived unblemished life and his good name was untainted. Senator Isiaka Adeleke was a man with the midas touch. A legend in life and in death. A statesman par excellence, who was shoulder high above his peers. A true son of Late Balogun Raji Ayoola Adeleke and Mama Esther Adeleke, both of whom impacted positively on his life and their other amiable children.

    The world at large is still missing you, iconic Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. A man who shone like a lone star in the sky. A polished politician and humanitarian of no mean order. Senator Isiaka Adeleke was a total family man who was a father, not only to his biological children, but to many out there, whose lives he touched through scholarship awards and other silent philanthropic gestures.

    The leader of leaders. Our leader yesterday, today and forever. Continue to rest in perfect peace in Aljanat fridaus. Sweet is your memory my fantastic friend, brother and boss. Evergreen is your memory.

     

  • Osun: I’m still governor, says Oyetola

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the weekend said he remained the duly elected governor regardless of Friday’s judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal.

    Oyetola enjoined the public to disregard the insinuations that he had been sacked, saying he was confident of retaining his mandate at the appellate court.

    He spoke yesterday while inspecting some on-going road and drainage projects in Osogbo, the state capital.

    The Governor said the outcome of the lower court didn’t in anyway affect the validity of the votes freely and willingly given to him by the people of the state.

    He said since the Constitution allowed him to file an appeal against the judgment, he remained the legitimate governor of the state.

    The governor said: “I am confident that our mandate will be reaffirmed at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

    “As you all know, it was a split judgment, telling us that it was not a unanimous decision. This is part of our strength at the Appellate Court

    “I must correct the impression that I have been removed from office I remain the governor of Osun till all the electoral litigations are finalized.

    “So, my visit to this site is in furtherance of our commitment to ensure a better life for all residents of the state and to demonstrate that governance brought about by our government continues”, he said.

    Oyetola who had earlier received the leaders and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Government House and assured the teeming supporters of the party that he would come victorious at the end of the electoral litigation.

    He called on the party loyalists to remain calm and expressed confidence in the judiciary to deliver justice as it remained the ‘hope for a common man’”

    He told the people of the state and supporters of APC not to panic over the Friday judgement. Speaking while addressing supporters and members of the APC in Osun State, who paid a solidarity visit to him at the Government House yesterday, he reiterated his commitment to the development of the state, saying nothing would deter him from providing dividend of democracy to every nooks and crannies of the state.

    He expressed gratitude for the solidarity visit, and assured them that there was nothing to panic about the ruling.

    Describing the judgement of the tribunal as a ‘split judgment of two against one’, he said with God by his side he would become victorious.

    He said: “I want to appeal to our people to remain calm with the judgement of the Tribunal. I want to appreciate you for identifying with me over yesterday’s verdict. Well, it was a split judgement of two of one and it’s not unanimous.”

    He expressed confidence in the judiciary despite the judgement of the three-man election petition tribunal that declared his major contender, Adeleke, the winner of the September 22, 2018 governorship poll.

    In a state broadcast, the governor said: “I address you this day to inform you that in response to the judgment of the Osun Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Friday, the 22nd day of March, 2019, we have gone on appeal to challenge the split decision of the Tribunal.

    “This split decision notwithstanding, our confidence in the judiciary remains unshaken, which is why we are going back to it for necessary review through the Appellate Court.”

    Meanwhile, APC in Osun State yesterday urged the Police and other security agencies to disregard claim by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  that the ruling party planned to unleash mayhem in the state.

    The APC branded the PDP claim a false alarm.

    “The notorious gang of violent acts in Osun are the PDP thugs, who when they break loose on streets and localities leave a trail of blood and tears. These people have been notorious for violence since 2003”, the APC director of publicity, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said in a statement.

    According to him, “Whatever violence the PDP leadership is falsely accusing the APC of plotting is actually what the PDP itself must have worked out to unleash on the peaceful people of Osun, consistent with that party’s own trademark.”

    The APC argued that it had no incentive for violence over the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja because there are “credible options for redress in both the court of appeal and the Supreme Court.

    Oyatomi added:”Our party is intelligent enough to know that it remains in power at Abere until the Supreme Court decides otherwise. So, why should we be planning violence against our own people?’

     

  • VIPs who passed on during the year

    VIPs who passed on during the year

    Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo

    Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, a former military governor of the defunct Western Region, died on Marh 8. The elder statesman and leader of Yoruba Council of Elders died in Lagos on the eve of his 89th birthday. Family sources had said he suddenly took ill at his GRA, Ikeja, Lagos residence and was taken to the hospital where he died shortly after.

    The late Adebayo was appointed the military governor of the Western Region after the death of Col. Adekunle Fajuiyi. After the civil war, he became chairman of the committee for the Reconciliation and Integration of Biafra, retiring from the army in 1975 and later joined the National Party of Nigeria as a politician.

    In 2013, he was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Pro- Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. His son, Niyi Adebayo, later became the elected governor of Ekiti State.

     

    Dr. Sam Ogbemudia

    Former Military Governor of Mid-West State, which later became Bendel State, and Edo State, Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, died on March 7 after a protracted battle with high blood pressure and diabetes. Aged 84, the peculiar thing about his death was that he was buried in a grave he prepared beside his wife’s grave before he died.

    A soldier and politician, he was highly revered in Edo State. Hence, it did not come as a surprise to many when the sitting governor, Godwin Obaseki, declared a seven-day mourning period after his death was announced.

    A political colossus who left his footprints in the sands of time, Ogbemudia was also known for his peace-making efforts among his kinsmen and Nigerian politicians in general.

     

    Babatunde Osotimehin

    Former Minister of Health and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund,  Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, was one of the prominent Nigerians that passed on during the year. He died on  June 4, 2017.

    Osotimehin died in Harrison, New York, a suburb of Manhattan, aged 68 years.

    During his days at the  United Nations Population Fund , Osotimehin held  the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and was reappointed in August 2014 until his death.

    Osotimehin’s interests were youth and gender, and he advocated for reproductive health and reproductive rights, particularly within the context of the HIV epidemic. One of his strengths was his reliance on data and evidence.

     

    Olu Adeniji

    Ambassador Olu Adeniji, a Nigerian career diplomat, a former Foreign Affairs Minister and politician who was the Special Representative of the General Secretary with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) from November 19, 1999 to July 16, 2003, died on November 27  in London aged 83.

    Adeniji who was born on July 22, 1934 in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian embassies in Washington, D.C., Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Accra, Ghana. He retired from service in 1991 after serving as the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For five years he was the Nigerian Ambassador to France.

    Beginning in early March 2008, Adeniji headed negotiations in Kenya related to that country’s political crisis, following the departure of the previous head negotiator, Kofi Annan. In addition, he served on the Commission of Eminent Persons on The Role of the IAEA to 2020 and Beyond, chaired by Ernesto Zedillo, whose report Reinforcing the Global Nuclear Order for Peace and Prosperity was launched in June 2008.

     

    Olu Adegoruwa

    Former Attorney-General of Nigeria and human rights activist, Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, died July 21.  Onagoruwa who died at the age of 80 was appointed the Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1993 and was further appointed as the African representative to the body that drafted Ethiopia’s constitution in that same year. He was also the Group Legal Adviser/ Company Secretary of Daily Times of Nigeria for several years.

    Onagoruwa was also the Group Legal Adviser/Company Secretary of Daily Times Nigeria for several years.

    Onagoruwa authored several books, including the Nigerian Civil War: Fundamental Human Rights and International law 1969, the Amakiri Case; Press Freedom in crisis 1978 and Law and Contemporary Nigeria Reflections 2004. Onagoruwa, who attended the Academy of American and International Law Center, USA on a full scholarship, served as a law lecturer in various Nigerian institutions, including the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

    His core practice areas included Constitutional law, Legislative Matters, Banking and Insolvency, Oil and Gas, Telecommunication Law and litigation. He wrote several books and had to his credit over 250 published articles. Onagoruwa held a doctorate degree in Law.

     

    Alhaji Gidado Idris

    Renowned technocrat and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Alhaji Gidado Idris, died in Abuja on December 16 at the age of 82 after a brief illness.

    At his death, his friends described him as a “humble, thorough and simple man who was very accessible to whoever stepped into his office as SGF.”

    Alhaji Gidado Idris hailed from Zaria in Kaduna State. He was appointed SGF in 1993 and he retired in 1999 after a civil service career that started before Nigeria’s independence. He served variously in the military and civilian governments before his retirement.

     

    Teikumo Ikoli

    The Nigerian Navy was thrown into mourning on April 5 when the Fleet Commander of the Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli, was found dead at his Apapa, Lagos residence.

    Lieutenant Commander Chinwe Umar, the spokesperson for the Western Naval Command, confirmed that gunshots were said to have been heard in the early hours of that day in the vicinity of the deceased Rear Admiral. He was later found dead in his room.

    Ikoli was the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT and was later appointed into the Presidential Committee on the probe of arms deal before he became the Fleet Commander, Western Naval Command.

    It was gathered that the naval officer had left the office in the afternoon before the fateful day, complaining that he was not feeling too well. He was also said to have nursed the fear that he could be assassinated because of his involvement in the arms deal probe.

    A suicide angle was also raised as his body was found in a pool of blood. He was aged 52.

     

    Senator Isiaka Adeleke

    The death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, the senator representing Osun West in the National Assembly, in controversial circumstances on April 23, came as a rude shock not just to his constituents but the entire Nigerian political landscape. The sudden nature of his death shortly after he returned from a political outing had sparked a riot from his numerous supporters who felt that there was more to his death than met the eye.

    Prior to his election as a senator of the All Progressives Congress APC) in 2015, he had functioned as the first civilian governor of Osun State and the senator representing  Osun West on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party between 2007 and 2011. Before his sudden death in April, he was aspiring for the governorship seat of Osun State a second time.

    Mr Alfred Aderibigbe, the nurse accused of administering an overdose of drugs on the late senator, denied the allegation before the Coroner Inquest Panel set up by the Osun State Government.

     

    Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo

    Former Managing Director of Daily Times, Dr. Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo, would probably be alive but for the menace that armed robbery constitutes in the country. He fell to the bullets of armed robbers on the Ilesa–Akure Road on his way from Abeokuta to Abuja after attending the 80th birthday celebration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Adinoyi-Ojo, a former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s Senior Special Assistant, Public Communication, was reputed for shunning a good job with the United Nations to remain in Nigeria to work for the development of the country.

    A journalist as well as an author and playwright, he was known to have had very good relationship with his professional colleagues.

     

    Prof. Abubakar Momoh

    The Director-General of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Electoral Institute in Abuja, Prof. Abubakar Momoh, died of natural causes in his official residence in Abuja at about 9 am on May 29.

    A renowned Professor of Political Science fondly called the political whiz kid in the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University, where he lectured until his appointment as the DG of INEC Electoral Institute, his death was described by the Vice-Chancellor of the university as a huge loss that saddened the entire university community.

    Before his death, the former Vice President of the African Association of Political Science (AAPS), and National Treasurer, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) 1991-1995 had been a research fellow and lecturer in many universities around the world.

    The native of Auchi, Edo State, also served as an election observer in several African countries on behalf of ECOWAS and the African Union, as well as in some European countries.

     

    Prof. Andrew Nok

    The death of Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Andrew Nok, came as a shock to his friends and associates even though he was hospitalised for about three weeks before his death. This is because the professor, who died on November 21 at the age of 55, was thought to have recovered at the National Hospital, Abuja, where he was being treated for an unnamed sickness. Sadly, he died at a time that friends and associates expected him to return to work.

    A former university teacher, he had left the Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, following his appointment on July 29, 2015 as the Commissioner for Health and Human Services. He later became the state’s Commissioner of Education, Science Technology on May 4, 2016.

    Nok who held a master’s and doctoral degrees in Biochemistry from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was noted to have made some revolutionary contributions to the Ministry of Health in Kaduna State while he held sway as a commissioner.

    He was a recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit Award in 2010 in the science category. He also won several awards and research grants, including Alexander Von Homboldt Prize in 2013 for his work in finding a cure for Trypanosomiasis.

    He was also a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Alexander Von Homboldt Foundation and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

     

     Alhaji Kabir Umar

    The Emir of Katagum Emirate in Bauchi State, Alhaji Kabir Umar, was also one of the prominent Nigerians who departed during the year after a protracted illness he battled for five years. He died at the age of 89.

    His death was announced by the state governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, who declared that the royal father was upright, just and kept the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. His death, Abubakar said, was a great loss to the state and Nigeria as a whole.

    The late emir, who was said to have been survived by 49 children, was buried at his palace in Azare.

     

    AVM Olufunsho Martins

    Retired Air Vice-Marshal Olufunsho Martins, a resident of Park View Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, died in a lone accident together with his driver in his Ford Explorer Sports Utility Vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge on October 28 after his car somersaulted and plunged into the lagoon.

    Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), which swung into a rescue action along with local divers, were able to recover the remains of the Air Vice Marshal and his driver from the Lagoon many hours after the incident occurred.

    AVM Martins, who was said to have just returned from the United Kingdom for a burial in Nigeria when he died, had held several appointments in the Nigerian Air Force. He was the Commandant, Rehab Oshodi and AOL HQ NAF.

    As a businessman, he owned and event centre and was also into real estate.

     

    Adebayo Faleti

    The movie industry lost one of its finest hands, Pa Adebeyo Faleti, to the cold hands of death on July 23.   Born on December 26, 1921,  Faleti was  a bundle of talent and a man of many firsts. He was Africa’s first newscaster, Africa’s first stage play director, Africa’s first film editor and librarian with the first television station in Africa (WNTV/WNBS), Nigeria’s first Yoruba presenter on Television, a Nigerian poet, journalist, writer, Nollywood films director and actor.

    He was also known as a Yoruba translator, a broadcaster, TV exponent and pioneer of the first television station in Africa, Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), now known as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

    He was responsible for translating Nigeria’s national anthem from English to Yoruba. He also translated speeches being made by Nigeria’s former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, former premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Chief Ernest Shonekan, Head of National Interim Government of Nigeria, from English to Yoruba.

     

    Senator Kanti Bello

    Two-time senator from Katsina State, Kanti Bello  died on 29 August 2017. Bello who represented Daura Senatorial Zone between 2003-2007 and 2007-2011, was the pioneer Managing Director of Katsina Steel Rolling Mill.

    He was elected senator in 2003 on the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform.  In the 2004 local elections in his state, he protested strongly against alleged electoral fraud which resulted in People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidates being returned. However, in 2007 he successfully ran for re-election on a PDP slate.

    In 2009, Bello was the Nigerian Amir-Hajj for the Nigerian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. He broke a record where for the first time in over 20 years, all the pilgrims left on time.

  • Police invitation: Omisore, lawyers, human rights activist speak

    Police invitation: Omisore, lawyers, human rights activist speak

    The recent invitation of the former deputy governor of Osun State and Ex-Senator Iyiola Omisore, by Mr. Umege Uzochukwu, a deputy commissioner of Police in charge of Osun State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, has been generating a lot of furore in the media. Many have queried the way and manner the invitation was circulated widely to various online and offline media houses.

    A Lagos based online blogger, names withheld, disclosed that he became suspicious the way and manner the Police Invitation was written and attached to a press statement with a tone of urgency for them to publish the material last weekend. “It was sent out from the same source with a tone of urgency and we became suspicious. Moreso, it was dated October 20, 2017, why sending it on October 27?”

    In his response, Senator Omisore has described his invitation as a sinister plot by some powerful interests in the ruling opposition party in his state to get him out of circulation ahead of 2018 gubernatorial election in the state by using the Nigeria Police to frame him on trumped-up charges.

    Omisore, who was the Chairman Appropriation Committee while serving the Senate, stated in a press release personally signed by him, that these opposition elements are apparently working with the Nigeria Police or some of their officers to realise their sinister plot against his person.

    “In the invitation, I was asked to report to the said DCP Uzochukwu that the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke, had reported a case of assault against me to them. And I wondered when Senator Adeleke (may God rest his soul) made the report as no date was given in the said invitation. The police invitation letter was dated 20th October 2017”, he quizzed.

    Some legal experts who have been paying attention to the development have queried the legality or otherwise of the letter. Reacting to the police invitation, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Nathaniel Oke, described the action of the police as “political harassment.”

    According to Oke (SAN), “Police have the statutory power to invite any individual who is suspected to have committed any offence for the purpose of carrying out their investigation to determine whether a criminal offence has actually been committed or not. The only area that is actually worrying me is that when Senator Isiaka Adeleke himself was alive, what step did the police actually take to unravel and probably prosecute Senator Iyiola Omisore? Therefore, to me, it is a political harassment. It is a political intimidation.

    “The question is this; Senator Adeleke was alive since 2014 before he died in 2017. Now, where is the complainant as far as that criminal allegation is concerned? Will evidence now be given on behalf of the deceased? I don’t think it is proper. They have the right to invite him for the purpose of interrogation, but the fact is that, this is political harassment.

    “The point I am making is that, what were the police doing as at the time the person who was purportedly assaulted was alive. Why after the demise of Senator Adeleke?” Oke interrogated.

    In his own argument, a lecturer at the faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU Ile-Ife, Mr. Musibau Lateef, described the police action as “absurdity and ridiculous.

    “It is the height of absurdity. The assault that happened in 2014, as a matter of law, you cannot maintain a crime of assault which is a personal injury on behalf of a dead person. For the sake of God, Senator Adeleke is late, can anybody legally speaking, bring an action of assault on his behalf? The answer is no, legally speaking, and that is why I said, for me, it is a sign of ignorance and it is quite ridiculous.

    “The police have the right under section 2(11) of the Constitution and Police Act, to invite anybody, but in this context, it is the height of ignorance. I’m speaking as a matter of law; it is not possible to sustain a matter of assault on behalf of the dead person. It is personality injury crime that only the person who suffered the injury must testify.

    Reacting to whether the evidence of the late Adeleke before the commission of enquiry can be admitted on oath, the law lecturer said, “we are talking about crime here; no commission of enquiry, I repeat, no commission has the right to indict anyone on criminal offence.

    “So, whatever the findings of the commission in this respect goes to nothing. Who will come to court to tender the statement? This is not a matter of controversy and that is why I used ignorance deliberately, it is the height of ignorance.

    “We are not talking of murder here because murder would have been different, but he slapped me, he kicked me, how do you prove that? It is ridiculous and height of ignorance. Going by the content of the letter that he was invited in connection with the 2014 issue, it is ignorance on the part of the police. The content of the letter has rubbished whatever may be the reason for the invitation. “Senator Omisore may refuse to go. He can simply tell his lawyer to go and explain to them. You have the right not to subject yourself to such ridiculous invitation”, Lateef explained.

    Speaking in the same vein, Barrister Oluwaseun Ijoba, said: “The police have not been responsible in handling this issue. If the letter did not state particularly the reason they invited him, it would have been something else.

    Now, I begin to wonder, what intelligence, what new fact would emerge after the death of this man about seven months ago that did not emerge in three years after the alleged act. I couldn’t see any reason for this invitation rather than political harassment.

    “It is a mere allegation against Senator Omisore. It has not been proved. There’s no way the police would justify their position presently after three years!. If there is no opportunity to cross-examine a witness, to test the veracity of the statement made by the witness, the statement amount to nothing.

    A human right lawyer, Mr Kanmi Ajibola, said “the invitation by the police to Otunba Iyiola Omisore is very wrongful and offensive. The cause of complaints given to the police by the late Senator Adeleke had passed off with his death. The police should be very careful on careless and unproductive invitation like this”. He wondered why the police have not prosecuted the case since 2014 when it was reported to them.

    But the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Mr. Wale Afolabi, maintained that criminal case can be prosecuted any time, even after the death of the complainant. “Police has the right to invite anybody for questioning once there is a report of an alleged crime. Don’t forget that the law is no respecter of anybody. No matter highly placed, the police have the right to invite such person for interrogation’, Afolabi asserted.

    Explaining further his initial position and the politics behind the unusual invitation, Senator Omisore said, “We all know that as Nigerians we are living in a very interesting time. The culture now is to source for scapegoats in members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for every inaction of the government. The tragic instance in which the late former Osun State governor, a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic, died is still fresh in our memories, particularly the controversy that his death generated across the nation.

    “What is also fresh in our collective memory is the decision by the good people of Osun State to reward the late Senator Adeleke and people of Ede by electing his brother to complete his term in the Senate. The people’s decision, of course, was carried out by our great party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).”

    “Could this invitation by the police have been anchored on the role I played as a party leader in that election? Omisore probed. Wondering how the police could allow themselves to be brazenly used against the people they are expected to protect.

    “Therefore, I want the public to know about the plot and keep them informed about this sinister plot against myself and the memory of Senator Adeleke,” Omisore concluded.

  • Osun West by-election: ‘My pedigree will earn me victory’

    Osun West by-election: ‘My pedigree will earn me victory’

    About 12 days to the Osun West Senatorial bye-Election, the flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Mudashir Husain ‎has expressed strong conviction that his pedigree would earn him victory in the July 8 poll.

    Hussein said his political antecedents, pedigree and wide experience were enough to floor his opponent, Dr. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democracy Party, who is the younger brother of the late occupier of that seat, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

    Hussain, in a statement by his Media Aide, Kamil Opeyemi, was quoted as speaking on a current affairs program on Rave FM in Osogbo on Monday. He described his opponent as an inexperienced politician whose campaign “is just based on leveraging on the antecedents of a brother.”

    The Ejigbo born politician stated that the PDP candidate is just a political follower who is not fully bred to take up the challenges of an office like that of a Senator.

    According to him “Even when his late brother, Sen Isiaka Adeleke was alive, I defeated him in 2007 but was rigged out. I defeated him with a huge margin in 2011 when he congratulated me with a written letter which I have with me.

    “You see, political positions are not birthrights (Oye-Idile) of anyone as we say in Yorubaland. It is a contest of ideas and not leveraging on a family member’s political history. I stepped down from the position to contest my second term to work for Adeleke even though I did not reject the wish of my party.

    He added “As a loyal party man, I supported Adeleke’s course and dropped my ambition and when I was called again to serve in the election, I accepted. What happened to Sen Isiaka Adeleke was something all of us were bitter about but it was from God who we could not question.”

    On his chances of victory at the by-election, he explained that “I know that Ede zone is his stronghold. In Ede South, I will win convincingly there while in Ede North where Ademola Adeleke comes from, we will share the votes. In all other areas, I’ll floor him and be victorious at the end.”

    Sen Hussein maintained that his achievements in his first sojourn in the Senate are visible and enough to return him back to the National Assembly.

    The APC candidate said he is aware of the many lies being cooked up by the PDP over his candidature, noting however that his consolation is that this was the same strategy that led to the party’s defeat both in 2014 and 2015 elections.

    He said he is proud of the achievements of the Aregbesola administration in Osun adding that his ambition to return to the Senate is to enhance quality of governance.

  • Osun sets up inquest into Senator Adeleke’s death

    Osun sets up inquest into Senator Adeleke’s death

    The Government of Osun State on Sunday said it has set up an inquest to unravel the cause of the death of Senator representing Osun west senatorial district, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy.

    The statement reads: “We are still in shock and great pain over the transition of our friend, associate and brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He was a prominent son of our state and its first democratically elected Governor.

    “Until his death, he was the senator representing Osun West in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was an astute and colourful politician and a generous personality. He was gregarious, enthusiastic and full of life and zest. His death is therefore shocking and totally unexpected.

    “The State Government of Osun had intended to give him a befitting state burial which he rightly deserved and which the state had prepared to undertake.

    “Regrettably, however, the enemies of the state, through brigandage, violence and evil machinations, created an atmosphere of fear and terror in the minds of our citizenry and friends throughout the federation.

    “Immediately the news of his demise filtered in, a band of vagabonds, crying more than the bereaved, took to the streets, looting and wreaking havoc. Journalists were roughened and their equipment damaged. Important dignitaries that came for the burial were equally molested by these thugs.

    “Senator Adeleke was a man of peace. He preached peace and lived it through his life. He left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he could not stand violence. This was after he was beaten up by some leaders of the PDP during a meeting in a hotel in Osogbo.

    “It is a profound irony and most unfortunate therefore that a few disgruntled elements purporting to protest his death desecrated his funeral with violence and attacks on innocent persons. They dishonoured him and did his memory a great disservice by keeping his friends, political associates and well-wishers away from his burial.

    “The best we could do in the circumstance was to declare three days of mourning throughout the state and fly national, state and our party’s flags at half-mast in his honour.

    “In the light of this, the State Government of Osun, using the instrumentality of the law, is setting up an inquest to unravel the circumstances of this unfortunate and sad incident, in order to put the record straight on his death.

    “We continue to mourn the untimely death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He is irreplaceable in our hearts. We commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends, constituents and generality of our peopleon the passage of this patriot.

    “As we pray for the repose of his soul, we equally pray for the strength to bear this heavy loss.”

  • Adeleke was a great philanthropist – Jonathan

    Adeleke was a great philanthropist – Jonathan

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has extended his condolences to the family of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke as well as the government and people of Osun State over the death of the lawmaker and former Governor of the State.

    The ex-president’s condolence message was contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze.

    He described the late Adeleke as a national icon and great philanthropist who was warm and lively.

    He said: “I received the news of the death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke with a sense of great personal loss. It is hard to imagine that the very lively and warm
    ‘Serubawon’ has died.

    “Though I am saddened by his death, I give God the glory for his life of contribution to Osun state, where he was the first civilian governor and to Nigeria, where he was an icon and to humanity in general because he was a great philanthropist.

    “He will be greatly missed and the void his death has caused will be hard, if not impossible to fill. May his soul rest in peace and may he achieve al Janna firdaus.

    “I pray that God grant his family and supporters the fortitude to bear his loss. Adieu great Asiwaju of Ede,” he stated

     

  • FG to inject N6.5b in Capital Market

    FG to inject N6.5b in Capital Market

    The Federal Government is to inject the sum of N6.5 billion into the Capital Market, Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Isiaka Adeleke has said.

    The information is coming even as Senators and members of the House of Representatives Wednesday commenced the process of shoring up the dwindling fortunes of the country’s Capital Market.

    At a joint press briefing of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Capital Market, the lawmakers said that they have resolved to rejuvenate the Capital Market to enable it play active role in revamping the economy of the country.

    Senator Adeleke who spoke on stakeholders’ forum on “realizing the full potentials of the Nigerian economy through proactive capital market legislation,” said that the government planned to inject N6.5 billion to shore up the fortunes of the Capital Market as well as to protect investors’ funds.

    He noted that the era of change in the country called for major shift in approaches to seeking solutions to political, social, and economic challenges facing the country.

    Senator Adeleke said that the National Assembly is aware of the dwindling fortunes of the Capital Market and by extension the economy.

    He said, “As a mono-product economy, with oil and gas constituting the life-blood, the global downturn has continued to negatively affect meaningful growth and development.

    “As a parliament we strongly believe that the downward slide of Nigeria’s economy provides the best opportunity for major stakeholders to begin to return the economy to vibrancy. We are confident that the Capital Market can and should perform this role.”

    Senator Adeleke also said that the National Assembly planned to enact legislation that would compel idle funds in bodies like Pension Funds to be used to stimulate the Capital Market to play expected role in the growth of the economy.

    The two chambers of the National Assembly, he said, “came to the jolting realization that the Nigerian economy cannot fully develop without making the capital market the hub or pivot of its developmental strides.”

    He said, “This market has long been neglected and denied its rightful and strategic role in our march towards economic recovery. The Capital Market is a veritable institution for the mobilization, allocation and utilization of long term funds, not just by the federal but also for states and local governments.”

    He added that the forum which intends to create an enabling legal environment for the achievement of the recommendations of the Capital Market Master Plan (2015 2025) is primed towards the rejuvenation of the economy.

    According to him, “the desire of the Joint Committee on the Capital Market and Institutions in this direction is to focus its legislative work in making the recommendations of the Master Plan the catalyst for achieving the infrastructural and development needs of a diversified national economy.”

    He said that the Joint Committee on the Capital Market will be interested in legislations that will encourage Nigerian entrepreneurs to have access to long term funds for productive activities as well as enhance their capacity to create employment opportunities.

    He also said that the committee would work to create liquidity and investment opportunities for both foreign and local investors as well as facilitate the translation of pension funds into investments for national economic development.

    “Laudable as these objectives are, we reason that they can only be achieved when stakeholders in the capital market are able to discuss issues and challenges that will bring about an optimal use of the capital market and mainstream the Nigerian capital market as a critical component in national economic policy.

    As legislators, we are ready to retool the laws guiding capital market operations or make new ones that would accelerate the relevance of the capital market in national economic development. Therefore, we seek to grow the Nigerian capital market to be in a position to contribute meaningfully to economic growth and development.

    “This will make the capital market spearhead development in key sectors of the national economy such as oil and gas, agriculture, tourism and hospitality,” Adeleke said.

     

     

  • Panel to inspect venue of Adeleke’s assault

    Panel to inspect venue of Adeleke’s assault

    The Justice Moshood Adeigbe Commission of Inquiry on Disturbance of Public Peace set up by the Osun State government will soon inspect the venue of the alleged assault on the first civilian governor and a chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

    Adeleke had filed a petition before the panel against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the August 9 governorship poll, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, and retired Custom officer Sogo Agboola.

    He alleged that the trio assaulted him during a PDP stakeholder’s meeting last April at the Ideal Nest Hotel, Osogbo.

    At the resumed hearing of the panel, the counsel to the petitioner, Lekan Babalola, told the commission that his last witness was not present, promising that he will be available at the next adjourned date.

    The chairman of the commission, Justice Adeigbe, said Adeleke would take the commission to the venue of the incident to enable the panel write a comprehensive report on the matter.

    The commission also demanded that the former governor be present at the next adjourned date for closing of his case.

    The commission adjourned till February 3.

     

  • Adeleke, Adeyeye, Omoworare get Osun senatorial tickets…

    Adeleke, Adeyeye, Omoworare get Osun senatorial tickets…

    •Eight Reps returned

    THE first civilian Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, incumbent Senators Olusola Adeyeye and Babajide Omoworare, emerged yesterday candidates of the All Progressives Congress in its primaries Osogbo, the state capital.

    Adeleke,who was Senate Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission from 2007 to 2011, got the ticket for Osun West Senatorial District while Adeyeye and Omoworare were returned for Osun Central and Osun East respectively.

    For House of Representatives, all incumbent lawmakers were returned, except for Atakumosa East/Atakumosa West, who has his case pending.

    Lasun Yussuf was returned for Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu federal constituency and  Yinka Ajayi for Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro federal constituency. Femi Fakeye made Egbedore/Ejigbo/Ede North/Ede South. Gafar Amere was returned for Iwo/Ola-Oluwa/Ayedire. For Irewole/Ayedire/Isokan Federal constituency, Mrs. Ayo Omidiran got the ticket.

    Rotimi Makinde got the ticket for Ife Central/Ife East/Ife North/Ife South and Area Office. For Ileas East/West, Ajibola Famurewa and Nathaniel Agunbiade get Obokun/Oriade ticket.