Lagos Assembly Holds Special Sitting For Late Speaker

The Lagos State House of Assembly this morning held a special session in honour of the former Speaker Oladimeji Longe, who passed away a few weeks ago.

His remains were brought to the House where a special valedictory session was held for him. The Late Longe, 82, was the Speaker of the House between 1982 and 1983 before the military took over.

At the sitting were past and present officials of the state government, past and present lawmakers from the state, family members, friends and residents of the state who wanted to catch a glimpse of the corpse before interment.

Dignitaries at the burial included Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire; former governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, under whose tenure Longe served as Speaker, led delegates to the House for the session.

Some of those who served with him as lawmakers in the House were also present.

One of them, Akin-Akala Eric, described him as his good friend.

Yahaya Dosunmu said: “He had excellent credentials, extensive experience and good understanding of legislative matters,” adding that this gave him the opportunity to lead the House effectively.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, in his condolence message to the House, said as a community leader, the late Longe contributed immensely to the development of Aguda-Surulere community and Lagos State.

“Longe lived a fulfilled life and impacted positively on his community as a worthy representative of his people and the entire state whom he served diligently as a distinguished lawmaker.

“On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, I express my heartfelt condolence to the family of the distinguished patriot and statesman,” Fashola stated.

He prayed that God should grant him eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Former Speaker Jokotola Pelumi described him as “a most humble gentleman.”

A member of the current Assembly, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, said “death will come when it will come. May your soul rest in peace.”

Chief Whip of the current Assembly, Razak Balogun, said the Late Longe was “full of adoration and admiration for the House of Assembly and his age notwithstanding, he attended all functions we iinvited him to until his death.”

A resident of the state, Femi Oke, who said he witnessed the period of his activities, described him as a great man. “Sleep well, daddy,” he added.

The Late Longe attended the Methodist Primary School, Otapete, Ilesha, Osun State between 1937 and 1944 and had his secondary education at the Ilesha Grammar School between 1946 and 1951.

He started his career with the Nigeria Railway Corporation at the age of 22 in 1952 before proceeding to the University of London where he got his certificate in Law in 1965.

—EROMOSELE EBHOMELE