Buhari, Akande, Afenifere, Others Mourn Akinfenwa
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has extended his condolences to the Akinfenwa family on the demise of Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, a former national chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), who died last Thursday in Ibadan at the age of 89. The President also commiserated with the government and people of Osun State on the loss of the elder statesman, who represented Osun East in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003. Buhari said that Akinfenwa as a professional teacher, labour activist, politician and community leader dedicated his life to the service of others, even as he worked tirelessly to promote unity and cooperation among Nigerians of different walks of life.
The President prayed God to comfort all who mourn the late senator and grant his soul eternal rest.
Other prominent Nigerians have also sympathised with the family, with some of them visiting the Alafia Street, Basorun, Ibadan home of the deceased. Among them was a former deputy governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore. He described the deceased as his father, leader and mentor.
“Baba was my father, leader and mentor. He lived for truth throughout his life. May his soul rest in peace. I’ll miss him and the entire progressives shall miss him,” Omisore said.
Also, pan-yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, described Akinfenwa as an Awoist.
In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Odumakin, the group said: “Senator Akinfenwa was an Awoist all through his lifetime. His contributions to progressive causes were laudable as a prominent leader in Afenifere. He was quite steadfast and dogged in defence of principles. His death has robbed the progressive family one of its eloquent defenders.
We pray that God Almighty will be with the family he has left behind and may his memory remain sweet for ever.”
Former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress and ex-osun State governor, Chief Bisi Akande, has also commiserated with the Akinfenwa family, saying he felt deeply sad and shattered to learn of the sudden death of the late senator.
In an emotional tribute to Akinfenwa, Akande said he shared a deep personal relationship with him .
The former Osun State governor said: “I feel deeply sad and shattered to learn of the sudden death of Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, a long time friend of mine since the formation of Chief Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Akinfenwa, among others, led the UPN into victory in Ijesaland.
“Akinfenwa and I first met as members of the old Oyo State Executive Committee of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in January 1979 and later, we became close friends within the cabinet of Chief Bola Ige’s government in Oyo State formed in October of that year. He was a most hardworking Commissioner for Education in the old Oyo State. Since then, the bond of our friendship has been very strong, at each other’s family level.
“Sometimes towards end of February 1984, just a few weeks after my temporary release from Kirikiri Prisons, I went to check on Mr. Akinfenwa at No 33, Rotimi Williams Avenue, Bodija in Ibadan. I met him with some pains. He put one of his ankles in bandage.