Posted by From Tunde Sanni in Ilorin, Wale Olaleye in Lagos and Ademola Adeyemo in Ibadan on
Former Minister of Works and Housing and the arrow-head of Project 007, a group campaigning for the return of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) to power in 2007, Maj-Gen. Abdulkarim Adisa, is dead.
Former Minister of Works and Housing and the arrow-head of Project 007, a group campaigning for the return of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) to power in 2007, Maj-Gen. Abdulkarim Adisa, is dead.
Adisa, 56, died in a London hospital yesterday following multiple injuries he sustained in an autocrash on his way from Kogi State last Saturday.
Adisa had been involved in an accident along the Omu-Aran federal highway last weekend necessitating his being flown abroad last Sunday for treatment at the London Hospital. He was coming from Iya-Gbede in Kogi State, to honour a former military colleague, Maj.-Gen. David Jemibewon (rtd), whose mother was marking her 95th birthday.
News of the demise of the former military officer had first been spread in the Kwara State capital, Ilorin, on Tuesday night but was quickly dispelled by the state government which put a call to the Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin who was among the medical experts that followed the former minister to London.
Information on his death was scanty yesterday as nobody was at his GRA residence and his Oja-Iya family house to talk to newsmen.
But by 1.45 pm, the news of his death got some official confirmation as mourners started trooping to his Abdulkarim Adisa residence at GRA, weeping and lamenting.
No family member, at press time, was on hand to confirm his death, but a close aide of the former minister who confirmed the death hinted that a meeting of both family and close associates was fixed for later yesterday.
Mariam, one of his children, was reported to be in London and may follow the remains back home today.
Efforts to get the comments of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Bola Olaosebikan, proved abortive as he replied each time he was contacted on his mobile phone that he was yet to get confirmation from London.
The former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Pastor Benjamin Yissa Ezekiel, lamented the death of Adisa which he described as 'unfortunate".
Ezekiel recalled the last moments he had with the former military governor and described him as a fine gentleman who was ready to state his position on any issue without fearing the consequences.
He had last December lost his father, Pa Bakare Aloba who died at the age of 95, while his last public outing was a press conference where he denounced the formation of a new group, Northern Unity Forum (NUF) for their anti-ACF stance.
Early visitors to the GRA residence included Ezekiel, the former Managing Director of Trade Bank, Mr Samuel Ereola Kolawole, a judge of the state high court, Justice Titi Daibu, Dr (Mrs) Sidiquat Oyin Folorunsho, members of Project 007 in the state.
Adisa might have died as a result of complications arising from heavy internal bleeding, a source who monitored his health told THISDAY yesterday on telephone.
The source disclosed that as at February 24, Adisa was still in coma and that he had been in that state since he arrived London for treatment following the ghastly motor accident. After the first operation, it was discovered he had complications.
His doctors, the source said, discovered that the complications were precipitated by the heavy bleeding after the operation. Thus, another operation was scheduled to hold on February 24.
But the surgery was said to have been put on hold pending a family meeting where it was expected to be decided upon. Again, the family meeting was also expected to consider flying him back to the country.
However, the meeting did not hold until his death. As at yesterday morning when the news of his death filtered into the newsrooms, efforts to keep tabs on his relatives failed as those with him at the Luton Hospitals had switched off their phones.
The source described his death as 'tragic and painful", especially because of the pains he went through. He said the level of complications might have outgrown his body resistance.
Reacting to Adisa's death, Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara, said he received news of the former works minister's transition 'with shock".
The statement signed by Mr Henry Ugbolue, Wabara's chief press secretary, reads: "It was with deep shock that the President of the Senate, Chief Adolphus Wabara, today (yesterday) received the news of the death in a London hospital, of the former Works and Housing Minister, General Abdulkarim Adisa. The Kwara State Government confirmed the death. Chief Wabara prays that Almighty Allah will grant his soul eternal rest.
Wabara further said that he "remembers General Abdulkarim Adisa as a forthright and courageous military officer who diligently discharged his duties to the nation both as a soldier and political officer holder". He said he recalled that the late Adisa recorded immense achievements which his successors adding that the nation's political leaders would miss the wise, bold and forthnight counsels of the late General.
In his reaction, Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Rashidi Ladoja expressed shock at the death of Adisa who was also a former governor of the state.
The Governor in his condolence message yesterday said that 'the death was tragic and an unnecessary wastage of human life when all hands should be on deck to resolve the challenges facing the nation".
Ladoja described Adisa as an outspoken, blunt, forthright gentleman whose views were always respected.
Ladoja described Adisa's era in the state as a period when developments took place. He particularly referred to the Banquet Hall of the Government House and rural electrification projects carried out during the late administrator's regime.
The governor condoled the governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, over the incident and enjoined the family of the late General to take heart and continue the open- door policy and philanthropic work of their kin.