Osun government vows to unravel cause of Adeleke’s sudden death

The government of Osun State has said it will use the instrumentality of law to set up an inquest to unravel the circumstances that led to the sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke.

In a statement yesterday, the government of Osun State said it intends to put the record straight regarding the senator’s sudden death, which has been generating allegations and counter allegations within the state and also across the country.

Immediately after Adeleke’s death on April 23, 2017, there was spontaneous protest by youths and his supporters who alleged he was killed for political reasons. The situation degenerated such that dignitaries, including governors and other notable sympathizers who attended his burial were molested and had to run for safety.

The statement reads: “We are still in shock and great pain over the transition of our friend, associate and brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.  He was a prominent son of our state and its first democratically elected governor. Until his death, he was the senator representing Osun West in the Senate.  He was an astute and colourful politician and a generous personality. He was gregarious, enthusiastic and full of life and zest. His death is therefore shocking and totally unexpected.”

The State Government added that despite the fact it intended to give Adeleke a befitting state burial, which according to it the senator rightly deserved and of which it had prepared to undertake, “regrettably however, the enemies of the state, through brigandage, violence and evil machinations, created an atmosphere of fear and terror in the minds of our citizenry and friends throughout the federation. Immediately the news of his demise filtered in, a band of vagabonds, crying more than the bereaved, took to the streets, looting and wreaking havoc. Journalists were roughened and their equipment damaged. These thugs equally molested important dignitaries that came for the burial.”

Contrary to the unfortunate scenario created after the senator’s death, the government said, “Adeleke was a man of peace. He preached peace and lived it through his life. He left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he could not stand violence. This was after some leaders of the PDP beat him up during a meeting in a hotel in Osogbo.

“It is a profound irony and most unfortunate therefore that a few disgruntled elements purporting to protest his death desecrated his funeral with violence and attacks on innocent persons.

“They dishonoured him and did his memory a great disservice by keeping his friends, political associates and well-wishers away from his burial. The best we could do in the circumstance was to declare three days of mourning throughout the state and fly national, state and our party’s flags at half-mast in his honour.

“Adeleke was irreplaceable in our hearts. We commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends, constituents and generality of our people’ on the passage of this patriot. As we pray for the repose of his soul we equally pray for the strength to bear this heavy loss.”