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| From right; Chief of Staff to Ondo State Governor/Representative of the Governor, Dr Kola Ademujimi, Governors Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, and the first son of the deceased, Feyi Agagu, at the ‘Day of Tributes’ for the late former Governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, |
Eminent personalities from all walks of life paid glowing tributes to the late former Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, describing him as a quintessential politician and a bridge-builder who lived his life for the service of humanity.
They were unanimous that the late Dr. Agagu was a patriot, nationalist and one of the foremost leaders of Yoruba in the South-West Nigeria who exhibited the principle of politics without bitterness.
Among the personalities who attended the day of tributes in honour of the late former governor at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan included Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State as well as his Osun and Ekiti State counterparts, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
Others included former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ayo Fayose, Gbenga Daniel and Segun Oni of Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and Ekiti States respectively, while Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State was represented by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Christian Ita and former President Olusegun Obasanjo by his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo.
In his own tribute, Governor Ajimobi described Dr. Agagu as a scholar, versatile patriot, dependable ally and a man who believed in the power of the human spirit to break barriers.
``Today is a very solemn day in the lives of the people of Oyo State. We have lost a friend, a patriot, brother and a resident whose decades of living in Ibadan had made him to effectively earn the honour of being one of us, an indigene of Oyo State.
``From January 1958 when he moved to live with his cousin, Edward Fagbohun here in Ibadan and schooled at the Ebenezer African Church Primary School, Oke-Ado, where he completed his primary school education in 1960, Agagu’s love for Ibadan and choice of Oyo State as home were unparalleled. It was no doubt his love for us that was responsible for his choice in 1961 to attend Ibadan Grammar School, where he passed out in 1967.
``That same preference for Ibadan no doubt led him to the University of Ibadan in 1968 where he first opted to study Botany but later changed to Geology and graduated in 1971,’’ Governor Ajimobi said.
According to him, the former governor was ``one of our brightest stars that just set’’, adding that his (Agagu’s) star set at a time he provided illumination to a large number of men and women and his countrymen at large.
``Dr. Agagu represented the best of us, indeed one of the trail blazers of professionals in the murky waters of politics. At a time when the general conception was that only the worst of us participated in politics, he literally bit the bullet, removed the hallowed academic gown of the academia and mounted the rostrum to campaign for the votes of his people.
The governor congratulated the good people of Ondo State for having the blessings of providence to have had Agagu administer the state; his wife for having such an uncommon patriot as husband, and his children for the honour to have been born and sired by him.
Also, Governor Aregbesola noted that the former governor lived a life worthy of emulation and that he gave himself to the greater pursuit of the greatest good of the people.
He also acknowledged Dr. Agagu’s passion about service to the people, adding that he was dutifully committed to adding values to human lives.
``Agagu was unassumingly humane; he connected without collision with people; unassuming without being cunny; brave without being brash and pleasantly accommodating,’’ Governor Aregbesola remarked.
He commended the late former Governor Agagu for his support for the current South-West integration agenda which, according to him, he (Agagu) saw as an opportunity for the region to develop economically.
For Governor Fayemi, Agagu’s entry into politics changed the typecast that only the charlatans got involved in the art of governance, adding ``he lit the candle and showed the pathway to some of us’’.
Former President Obasanjo whose tribute was read by his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo, said that the period was a moment of celebration rather than mourning as the former governor lived a fulfilled life.
He said that Dr. Agagu would be sorely missed by his wife, children, extended family, friends and his community.
``We have indeed lost a honest adviser, hardworking colleague, indomitable leader, lover of his community and a committed worker in the political vineyard who brought his intellectual ability to bear in my government,’’ he said.
Former Governor Gbenga Daniel, who spoke on behalf of all the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors in the South-West, acknowledged Agagu’s contributions to the development of the region both as a minister and as Governor of Ondo State.
He described the former governor as an accomplished academic, politician and a public servant par excellence, who life was characterized by diligence, humility, commitment, loyalty, patriotism and quiet philantrophy.
``Dr. Agagu remained a most consistent politician who brought dignity, candour, decorum and loyalty into the part of politicking. We have lost a consummate political gladiator, a humanist and complete gentleman,’’ Otunba Daniel remarked.
They all prayed for the repose of the soul of the former governor.
