• Makinde, Fayemi, others pay last respect to Alao-Akala at burial
Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, joined by his host, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, on Friday, attended the final funeral programme for the late former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, in his hometown Ogbomoso, where his body was laid to rest.
Other prominent dignitaries who also attended the programme to pay their last respect include Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, while the Governors of Ogun and Kwara were represented by their deputies, Noimot Oyedele Salako and Kayode Alabi.
Also in attendance were former governors of Ogun and Osun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Oyo State deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan; and Deputy National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofek Arapaja, members of the National Assembly; Youths and Sports Development Minister, Chief Sunday Dare; the President of the Nigeria Baptist Convention, Dr, Israel Akanji, who delivered the sermon at the service, and Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN, among others.
Osinbajo, in his address at the Beulah Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, described the late former Governor Alao-Akala, who died on January 12, 2022 at the age of 71 as a man of uncommon generosity.
The Vice President said the late Alao-Akala was a simple and humble man who practiced politics with an open mind, served the people and his country all his life” and “practically demonstrated what is possible when creativity and compassion are brought into governance.”
“Alao-Akala served the people and country all his life; from a career in the police force, to chairmanship of the Ogbomoso North Local Government, to Deputy Governor and then Governor of Oyo State. He put everything into public service. This is why today the people of Ogbomosho, Oyo State, and the nation gather to pay him the high respects due to such a well regarded patriot and faithful servant of the people,” Osinbajo said.
The VP further said that the testimonies of many associates of the late Oyo Governor recalling his political sojourn, was evidence that “Otunba Alao-Akala was a politician who knew how to be a political opponent without being a sworn enemy.
“The good people of Ogbomoso and the nation will miss the kindness, compassion and love of a trusted and revered leader, whose political influence and reach went beyond party affiliation and multi-partisan colours.”
He further added it was not surprising, that “in any political calculation, everyone knew that wherever Alao-Akala pitched his tent is where Ogbomoso will go, he was that highly regarded. His wide network is a solid reflection of the goodwill he enjoyed across political divides, ethnicities and faiths.”
Prof Osinbajo recalled the broad smile and hearty laughter of the late Alao-Akala, whom he described as “an illustrious political actor from Ogbomoso-land” who was able to strike and “sustain a deep connection with the people.”
“Everywhere he went in those days as Governor of Oyo State; you would hear chants of Oyato gomina! Oyato! For the benefit of non-speakers of Yoruba, they meant ‘Governor with a difference!’
“Of course, there were a couple of things Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala did differently on assumption of office (from Jan 2006 to December that year, and then again from May 2007 to May 2011),” the VP recalled.
The VP stated that as governor, the late Alao-Akala was able to significantly improve the State’s “Internally Generated Revenue (from a paltry N300 million to a record N1 billion) within eight months of becoming Governor.”
Alao-Akala also instituted impactful programmes like the home-grown empowerment scheme known as Community Link Advancement Programme (CLAP), Prof. Osinbajo noted, adding that a common refrain running through the glowing tributes paid to his memory was the attestation of his uncommon generosity.
“There is undoubtedly lot more to be said about his generosity in material terms and in things money cannot buy. At a personal level, I can attest to his generosity with time and counsel. I met him many years ago through his nephew, Prof Oyelowo Oyewo, SAN, currently Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State. And after becoming the Vice Presidential candidate of APC in 2014, he was one of those I immediately turned to for advice.
“Being a battle-hardened veteran of the game himself, he must have been wondering if I had the stamina to cope. So, he went on to give me some unforgettable advice about what he thought I should do. Till he drew his last breath, Alao-Akala never ceased to avail me of his quality counsel and words of encouragement, by way of phone calls or pep talk whenever our paths crossed.”
Osinbajo said the late former governor instituted impactful programmes and put in place security architecture to guarantee peace across the state, adding that he tacitly demonstrated what was possible when creativity and compassion were combined.
“All of these tributes gave attestation to his uncommon generosity. He was indeed a very gentle and humane gentleman,” Osinbajo said.
The Vice President, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the government and people of Nigeria, expressed condolences to the Alao Akala family, while praying that God will comfort and uphold them.
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Governor Makinde, while also speaking described Alao-Akala as one who loved everyone regardless of his or her political differences, saying he would be honoured accordingly.
Makinde, told the gathering that the state government would immortalise the late former governor, informing that a committee headed by his Chief of Staff, Segun Ogunwuyi, has been put in place to work on how best to honour the late politician.
“In the last conversation I had with Governor Alao-Akala, I called to inform him that I would like him to be the one to flag-off the Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin Road project and he said to me, ‘Seyi, just call to give 48 hours notice and I would be there.’
“He knew there was the time to tear down and a time to rebuild together. The former governor recognised the fact that particular time was not the time for us to project our political differences but a time to come together in the interest of Oyo State,” Makinde said.
Governor Makinde said the state government would support the family of Alao-Akala, and promised to redeem whatever pledge the late Alao-Akala made to students of Ogbomoso Baptist Conference College.
It was an emotion-ladden gathering at the at Beulah Baptist Centre, Ogbomoso, where the funeral service held, after which Alao-Akala was laid to rest at a special mausoleum built for him at his Ogbomoso country home.
