Michael Adeyemo in the chamber

Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan,

Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Michael Adesina Adeyemo, a father of two boys, presided over the Affair of the chamber this week Tuesday April 24, 2018, not knowing that that would be his last time sitting on the seat of the speaker of the 8^th Assembly.

His death on Friday April 27, 2018, came as a rude shock to many as he was always smiling and looking agile.

The late Speaker, who was always clad in white native attire with cap, was known to be an amiable and jovial leader who related very well with his colleagues.

Adeyemo, 47, who lost his wife some years back, did not show any sign of ill health until he had a heart attack in the night and was rushed to a hospital at Jericho Ibadan, where news later filtered out that he had given up the ghost.

Shocked, some of his colleagues in their various constituencies were forced to rush back to Ibadan for first hand information.

In a statement from the state secretariat of All Progressives Congress, APC, signed by the party’s public relations officer, Wale Sadare, Adeyemo’s death was described as a calamity that befell, not only the people of the state, but Nigerians and humanity as a whole.

The statement further described the speaker’s death as a devastating, saddening and unfathomable development which marks a dark spot in the anal of history of the state.

“One would wish our amiable Speaker did not die this time as his death creates a sad chapter in the pages of history book of our dear state. Hon. Adeyemo had been a brilliant, hard working and passionate player since he joined politics from his legal professional practice. His three-year reign as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly was full of monumental achievements and posterity would always be kind to him because he served humanity to the best of his ability. Obviously, Oyo APC and the entire good people of the state have lost a rare gem. Our condolences go to members of his family, our leader; Governor Abiola Ajimobi, members of the State House of Assembly, the good people of Lanlate and Ibarapaland in general as well as his professional and political associates. We pray God to give all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss”, the statement stated.

The Chief Judge of the state, Justice Munta Abimbola during a condolence call on the state Assembly described the demise of the late speaker as a great loss to the judiciary, state and nation at large.

Late Michael Adeyemo, first child of his parents and nicknamed AMA by fans, was born to the Adeyemo Family of Alaarun compound, Lanlate, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State. He started his education at IMG, Oke Ado, Ibadan for his primary school education, after which he proceeded to Celestial Church High School, Oke Ado, Ibadan for his secondary school education.

Adeyemo was a second Class Upper alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt where he read Education Management as well as the University of Ibadan, UI, where he read Law and graduated in 2004.

He worked with Olujinmi and Akeredolu law firm as a Lawyer until 2007 when he joined politics and later contested for a seat in Oyo State House of Assembly under Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and won.

He later decamped to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC. As a legislator he was the Deputy Chief Whip and a member of committees of fund allocation, works and transport, Agriculture, trade and investment, appropriation and public finance in the the 7th Assembly.

He facilitated the autonomy of two campuses of tertiary institutions in his constituency- The Polytechnic Ibadan, Adeseun Ogundoyin Campus, Eruwa and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Lanlate through His Excellency, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

Adeyemo was a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, and the International Bar Association, IBA. He served in the executive committee as an auditor and Assistant Secretary of NBA, Ibadan branch. Until his death, he was the speaker of the Oyo State 8th Assembly.