Governor Abiola Ajimobi signing condolence register during a courtesy visit to the parents of late Oyo State Speaker, Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo in Lanlate, Oyo State

 Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan

The death of the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Michael Adeyemo, has left the governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, devastated. This was evident when he led the State Executive Council and Assembly members on a condolence visit to the deceased country home, Lanlate, on Saturday.

The death of the speaker on Friday morning has left the state in shock as mourners continued to lament the unfortunate transition.

Governor Ajimobi has since declared three days of mourning in the state during which flags are expected to be flown at half mast.

 The governor was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Chief Florence Ajimobi; Deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo; all executive council members; members of the House of Assembly, led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abdulwasi Musa; State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Akin Oke, among others.

Chief Florence Ajimobi, Arowooje of Lanlate, Oba Lateef Olagoke and Governor Abiola Ajimobi during a condolence visit to Lanlate, the country home of the late Speaker Michael Adeyemo

The parents of the deceased, Chief Matthew and Mrs. Dorcas Adeyemo could not control their tears as they received the august visitors in their home intermittently saying that a “monumental tragedy” had befallen them.

Speaking on behalf of the late speaker’s family, a leader of the APC in Ibarapa zone, Apostle Samson Aderounmu, said that the parents and the entire family were taken aback by the news of his sudden death.

The APC leader said that he held a meeting with the late speaker on the eve of his death, during when he said he did not show any sign of illness or premonition that he was seeing him for the last time.

Since the sad news filtered through Lanlate and the entire Ibarapa zone, he said that family, friends and political associates and leaders of the deceased had been in anguish.

Ajimobi in his condolence message said that the death of the speaker was the greatest loss his administration and the All Progressives Congress family in the state had so far recorded.

Chief Matthew Adeyemo and his wife, Docas, parents of Oyo State Speaker Michael Adeyemo, a sympathiser receiving Governor Abiola Ajimobi, his wife, Florence and others on condolence visit in Lanlate

He wrote, “He was a brilliant, eloquent, intelligent, diligent and most patriotic speaker I ever met. He contributed immensely to the success of this administration. He was a peacemaker, bridge builder and a great son of Lanlate, Oyo State and Nigeria. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace”.

 The governor also visited the Arowooje of Lanlate, Oba Lateef Olagoke; the Eleruwa of Eruwaland, Oba Samuel Adegbola, in their palaces to commiserate with the monarchs on the death of their illustrious son.

Speaking on behalf of the Lanlate monarch, the Osi Lanlate, Chief Adegboye Adelani, described the death of Adeyemo as a tragic loss to the town and the Ibarapa zone, following what he called his monumental contributions to their development.

The monarch assured the governor of the continued support of the people of the zone for his administration and the APC in spite of the death of the speaker.

He said, “I cannot begin to recount the positive contributions of Adeyemo to the progress and development of our land. He was our illustrious son whom we hold in high esteem. I appeal to the governor to continue to remember Lanlate for good, in memory of our son. My other appeal is to his colleagues in the Assembly to uphold the legacy of peace and sustain the existing cooperation between them and the executive, which Adeyemo established during his period as speaker of the House”.

Also speaking during the governor’s visit, the Eleruwa of Eruwa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola said that he saw an ebullient and lively speaker when he visited him in his palace a few days ago to commiserate with him and the people of Eruwa on the death of one of the prominent chiefs in the town.

Oba Adegbola said, “It is not until the sad news of his death was broken to us that the entire zone realized the enormity of favour done to us with the zoning of the position of the speaker of the state Assembly to us. Adeyemo was a very responsible and caring son of the land. His death is a great loss to the state and the country as a whole. He will be remembered for his ability to manage the House peacefully and for promoting stability in the state. Our greatest pain is that he left behind his parents and young children”.