Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has expressed shock over the death of the member representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency, Honourable Olaide Akinremi, saying he was a lawmaker one could vouch for as having an interest in the development of Oyo State and Nigeria.
Makinde stated this at the Ibadan Airport, where he also met with the House of Representatives delegation on the death of the lawmaker.
He prayed to God to grant his family and the state, the strength to bear the sad loss.
He said: “It is unexpected. He was actually one of the representatives of Oyo State in Abuja and you could vouch for his interest in the development of this state.
“We were constantly talking, though we belong to different political party affiliations.
“I can only pray for the family for strength and for all of us to be able to bear this loss.”
The member representing Ibarapa North/Ibarapa Central, Dr Anthony Adepoju, who spoke alongside Governor Makinde, said Akinremi’s death marked a sad day for Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria.
He declared that the deceased lawmaker did well for himself, his community and the nation.
“It is a very sad day for Ibadan and for Oyo State as well as for Nigeria as a whole. We have lost a very hardworking representative; someone who believes so much in the unity of this country.
“He was someone, who, by his actions, has not only done well just for himself, family and community but the entire nation.
“He was someone who has been a mentor to a whole lot of people in the National Assembly. It’s a very painful and dark day for Nigeria.
“What we need at this point is to pray for the repose of his soul and we will definitely miss him dearly. It’s a very great loss. You could see that everyone is around here at the airport waiting to receive his body.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives has sent a powerful delegation.
“We have many honourable members here to honour him to pay our last respect to him. We pray that things like this should be far from us.
“The lesson learnt from this event is that we should learn how to be our brother’s keepers. Apart from that, we should take our health very importantly.”
Similarly, a ranking Member of the House of Representatives from Imo State, Princess Miriam Odinaka Onuoha, described Akinremi’s death as painful and unfortunate.
Describing him as a patriotic and quality legislator, she said: “It is unfortunate and really painful for us in the House of Representatives. It is unfortunate and painful for us. I met with Prince in the 9th Assembly and he was fun to work with.
“He was a patriotic and quality legislator par excellence. He made a noticeable effort to bring noticeable dividends of democracy to his people.”
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