By Sodiq Yusuf
Grief and uneasy calm have pervaded the All Progressives Congress (APC) fold in the State of Osun, as three notable politicians of the party succumbed to the cold hand of death in less than a month.
The first of the deceased notable politicians was Alhaji Dauda Alli, popularly known as Alfa-Dee, the Leader of Osogbo West Local Council Development Area.
A staunch member of the APC in Osogbo, Alli was said to have battled a long term ailment before he finally gave up on Friday, May 22, 2020.
While members of the APC were still in grief, Barr Adejare Adebisi, the Deputy Chief of Staff on General Administration to Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, was also announced to have kicked the bucket on June 12.
Adebisi, who was 54 years of age, had formerly served as the Assistant Chief of Staff to the Governor and Special Adviser, Governor’s Office in the immediate past administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Jare Adebisi
A consummate politician and thorough-bred technocrat, the Ilobu-born administrator was cherished by all for his dexterity, commitment to duty and loyalty to the party.
While the state was still mourning the demise of the late DCoS, death struck again in Olorunda North Local Council Development Area, as the Chairman of the council, Hon Quadri Owonikoko, passed on.
Owonikoko, it was gathered returned to the state from Lagos on Monday after undergoing treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
Owonikoko died in the early hours of Tuesday at the age of 52.
Hon Quadri Owonikoko
The deaths of these three politicians have left the APC leadership and the State Executive Council members in anguish.
In separate statements, Governor Oyetola expressed shock and sadness over the loss of the politicians.
The Governor, who described the death of Adebisi as a personal loss to him and the government he heads, said the late Deputy Chief of Staff was a dependable aide who carried out any assignment given to him with dispatch and with little or no supervision.
The state government also mourned the death of Owonikoko.
Mrs. Funke Egbemode, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, noted that Governor Oyetola was “deeply saddened by the loss of this committed party man who had a reputation for community development and people-oriented programmes at the grassroots level.”
The three politicians have since been buried according to Islamic rites.