ALL roads led to Ibadan, capital of Oyo State on Sunday evening as notable public persons arrived the city for the internment of late Governor Lam Adesina, who died earlier in the day following what family sources and friends described as a brief illness.
Sharpedgenews.com broke the story on September 19 that the late governor was rushed to a hospital in Ibadan in critical condition for an undisclosed ailment.
Upon his passing on Sunday morning at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos, his body was transported to Ibadan where burial arrangements were already in progress. Former governor and Action Congress of Nigeria leader, Mr. Bola Tinubu and a few other dignitaries joined the convoy of the ambulance that transported the late governor to his final resting place. He was finally interred at about 3.30 pm local time in Ibadan.
Prominent Nigerians of all stripes were present at the burial, top among which was Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Others include Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos.
President Goodluck Jonathan’s office on Sunday also reacted to the news of the death of the elderstatesman by expressing its sadness and extending condolences to his family.
“The President joins late Alhaji Adesina’s family, relatives, friends, associates and all who knew him in mourning the renowned educationist and political leader who devoted his entire adult life to working for the progress of his people and the nation,” a statement signed by presidential spokesman Reuben Abati read.
The statement added that “Alhaji Adesina’s indefatigability in political struggles as well as his honesty, integrity, sincere commitment and dedication to the service of his people before and during his tenure as governor have ensured that he will be honoured and remembered by present and future generations as an exemplary leader who did his utmost best to improve the lives of his people.”
Born January 20, 1939, the former governor was a teacher who emerged governor of Oyo State under the banner of the now-defunct Alliance for Democracy, AD, in 1999.
He was a political associate of the current Oyo Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who successfully ran for senate with his support in Oyo State in 2003.
After parting ways shortly afterwards, the two men reunited in 2009 under the banner of the Action Congress, which later metamorphosed into the Action Congress of Nigeria under which Governor Ajimobi currently serves as governor.