Posted by By AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan on
The once desolate country home of former National chairman of defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic, Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, located at Oje Market area of the city bounced back into life yesterday as politicians and family members of the late astute politician thronged the place to pay their last respect.
The once desolate country home of former National chairman of defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the Second Republic, Chief Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, located at Oje Market area of the city bounced back into life yesterday as politicians and family members of the late astute politician thronged the place to pay their last respect.
Among early callers was Akinloye's political student and successor in the political plain of Ibadan, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, who described the deceased politician in glowing terms.
His words: 'He was my political architect who by the will of God made it possible for me to have recognition in the political history of Nigeria .
'He promoted me and gave me what I can never forget in my life. His prayer has shown in my life. Surely, he will rest in the side of the Almighty God because he had meant well for the people."
Another political associate of Akinloye, who was the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in the Second Republic, when Akinloye held sway as NPN chairman, Chief Richard Akinjide. 'The great man is gone. An illustrious son of Ibadanland, a great leader of men and the first chairman of the largest political party in Africa is no more. He did his best for Nigeria in general, Western Nigeria, Western Region and Oyo State in particular."
Former governor of the Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, described him as a great man who had a brilliant political career 'Chief Akinloye was an elder politician and equally an elder statesman. Death has taken him away at a very ripe age so we cannot say the wicked ones have done their worse again."
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, in her reaction expressed shock, saying that Nigeria would surely miss Akinloye's contribution to her democratic process.
Factional chairman of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Dr. Olapade Agoro, was more succinct in his tributes.
'He was a colossus who, but for ill health towards the end of his life, was still fearful and awesome in dignity of contributions to human developmental course."
'But as a politician, he was one of the leading figures in South-West and in Nigeria, who brought
independence to Nigeria. He was the first Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. That was when ministers were responsible and people of integrity are appointed into public offices, unlike today when thieves given ministerial positions.
He diligently paid his dues in Nigerian politics and I wish him happy rest", Adesina stated.'His relevance in politics explained why a lot of his boys in the NPN later came back to form Obasanjo's PDP government and they carried over into the Yar'Adua government. There is no way, whether loudly or As for the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] Akinloye's demise is national loss.
According to a condolence letter personally signed by National Chairman, Amadu Ali, 'With his demise, the nation will miss the wise counsel of one of its most charismatic and dexterous leaders." Ali sai saying the late Akinloye's life epitomized the virtues of party solidarity, discipline and inclusive leadership.
'He belonged to the class of politicians who gave politics a clean definition."
The statement noted that in the late Akinloye's days as national chairman of NPN, 'he demonstrated a knock for consensus building among political parties and ensured a smooth relationship between the then ruling party and the government. By his death, an era is clearly closing."
'Though Chief Akinloye lived to a ripe old age, he will still be greatly missed for what he stood for
as a democrat and a Yoruba elder. His contribution to democracy cannot be waived aside. His death will create a vacuum both in Yorubaland and the entire nation, he said. According to Chief Femi Fani-Kayode former minister of Aviation, the South West has lost one of it's greatest and most distinguished sons and leaders.
'He lived a productive and truitful life. He was the chairman of one of the greatest parties that this country ever knew. We will miss him and his valuable counsel dearly," he said.
silently, overtly or covertly, Adisa Akinloye's relativity will not be prevalent in Nigerian politics and in Ibadan chiefdom in the next generations to come", he stated.
In his reactions, Dr. Dejo Raimi, Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) said:
'He was a man of many parts, a lawyer, an Ibadan astute politician, especially in the era of Adegoke
Adelabu Penkelemesi. He was one of the pride of Ibadan when you talk of contemporary political leadership.
He would be missed as he was a very nice man. Mogaji Gbade Ishola, Secretary, Ibadan Elders' Forum said the death signals the passage of a legend. He is a towering figure in Nigerian politics and he will be remembered in the political history of Nigeria as one of those who fought for the independence of the country. He was a member of the first representative government in Nigeria.
'Akinloye would also be remembered as a principal figure, who made it possible for late Chief Awolowo to form the first government in the Western Region. If not, late Nnamdi Azikiwe would have formed the government but Akinloye took members of the Ibadan Peoples Party (IPP) into the Action Group (AG). 'He was the first effective party chairman in Nigeria."
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Medical Director of UCH, Dr. Adeniyi Adenipekun, yesterday disclosed that the late politician died of multiple pathology including chronic liver problem and obstructive pulmonary, saying the culmination of these and old age led to the death of Chief Akinloye. According to the medic, the late politician spent six weeks in the hospital and died on the day he would have been discharged. His disclosure was corroborated by the consultant attached to the flamboyant politician, Dr. Abiodun Otegbayo, who said the death must be due to the constant liver failure of the politician.