16th November, 2012
Late former Senate Leader, political godfather and icon of Kwara State politics, Senator Abubakar Olusola Saraki, and former Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, have been described as true democrats who sacrificed a lot including their personal freedom for the enthronement of democracy in the country.
Member of the House of Representatives for Oshdi-Isolo Federal Constituency 2, Hakeem Abiodun Muniru; Lagos lawmakers, Wahab Alawiye-King of Lagos Island Constituency 2 and Mudasiru Obasa of Agege Constituency 1, and the Chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Adeyemi Alli, in their reactions, said the death of the two politicians is not a loss to only the southwest but also to the whole country.
“I am still in shock. We have indeed lost true democrats who have sacrificed a lot for the enthronement of democracy in this country,” Muniru said.
He stated that both politicians were among those who ensured that Nigeria returned to civil rule through their relentless struggle which eventually forced the military to relinquish power.
“Lam Adeshina was a man of honour and dignity and his administration as governor of Oyo State between 1999 and 2003 is still being talked about positively and with nostalgia by the people of the state,” Muniru said.
For Alawiye-King, his lasting image of the late former governor was in the twilight of the military junta headed by the late General Sani Abacha.
“I cannot forget that incident in Ibadan when the late Adeshina and other prominent pro-democracy activists were arrested and dubbed prisoners of war (POW) by the Abacha military junta for daring to seek the enthronement of democracy,” the lawmaker said.
He described the late politicians as men of principle and dignity who never compromised their stand on democracy in spite of the odds and threat to their lives.
Obasa, on his part, described both politicians as “men who lived a life of service to humanity, men who struggled for and defended enthronement of democracy even when their lives were threatened, and whose lives were for humanity.”
The lawmaker stated further that the legacy of service put in place by the politicians in Oyo and Kwara states are still being talked about.
“They put in place a legacy of service in their respective states and their people are still talking about them with nostalgia up till now,” he said.
Alli described the death of the politicians as a loss to Nigerians and lovers of democracy and rule of law.
“They lived a life of service to humanity, devoting the majority of it to the struggle for the attainment of democracy in the country. They will surely be missed by all of us. We have lost men of wisdom; men who lived for the people and served them to the best of their abilities,” the chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye LCDA said.
—Yisa Jamiu