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The NGF says Mr. Agagu’s voice was that of reason, moderation and peace at all times that Nigeria was faced with serious national challenges.
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has condoled with the people of Ondo state as well as Governor Segun Mimiko over the death of a former governor of the state, Olusegun Agagu, who died on Friday at the age of 65.
Chairman of the Forum and Rivers state Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, described Mr. Agagu’s death as unfortunate, saying the former governor passed at a time Nigeria needed his invaluable service most.
“It is unfortunate that Dr. Agagu, an excellent family man, a consummate politician and academic, and elder statesman passed on at a time our country needed his invaluable service most. His loss is no doubt a monumental loss to our nation,” Mr. Amaechi said.
He added, “Between 2003 and 2009, Dr. Agagu was an influential member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. And during that time, the former governor showed he was a man on a mission to improve the lives of his Ondo people in particular and Nigerians in general. His was a voice of reason, moderation and peace at all times that Nigeria was faced with serious national challenges.
“Dr. Agagu’s departure is deeply painful. But we take solace in the fact that he lived and died well. He dedicated his life to serving his people and country. We are especially proud that the former governor lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.
“Although, we cannot but grief over the death of this public spirited community man, we are sure that Dr. Agagu will long be remembered as a diligent, humble, patriotic, honest and philanthropic community organizer and leader.
“We commiserate with his family, friends and associates, the people and government of Ondo and Nigerians in general, and pray God to give us all the fortitude to bear this great loss. May the soul of this great man rest in peace.
End of a glorious era, says northern governors
The Northern States Governors Forum, NSGF has also paid tribute to the late Mr. Agagu, saying his death marked the end of a glorious era.
Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Aliyu, said in a statement that the late Mr. Agagu was a true nationalist who lived a purposeful life of dedication to the cause of Nigeria’s unity and development as well as commitment to the upliftment of the citizenry.
The Forum described the late Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain as a loyal party man and a diligent, principled person, who stood on the side of the people at all times.
“From Agagu’s stint as a lecturer at the prestigious University of Ibadan, through his tenure as minister of aviation, to his election to the position of the Governor of Ondo State, and his life in retirement, the former Governor remained with the people,” the forum said in a statement signed by Mr Aliyu’s spokesperson, Danladi Ndayebo.
The forum called on the Ondo State Government to honour the memory of the former to serve as an inspiration to the younger generation of Nigerians.
The groupGover also prayed God to grant repose to the soul of the departed and grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Agagu was a brilliant technocrat, patriot — PDP
In its own tribute, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, described late Mr. Agagu as a patriot and a brilliant technocrat who discharged his responsibilities both as minister and governor with finesse.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Olisa Metuh prayed for the repose of the soul of the late politician.
“The Peoples Democratic Party expresses deep sorrow and conveys its heartfelt condolences on the death of the former governor of Ondo state, Dr. Olusegun Agagu,” the statement said. His patriotic and knowledgeable personality was outstandingly expressed as minister and governor. We wish to put on record, his pioneer contributions to the groundwork of the current power reforms of the federal government. ”
“On behalf of the National Chairman of our great party, Dr. Bamaga Tukur, we send our sincere condolences to his immediate family and to the government and people of Ondo state. May he find rest in the bosom of the Lord,” Mr. Metuh said.
Agagu’s death a rude shock, says Governor Ajimobi
The governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, has described Mr. Agagu’s death as shocking.
Mr. Ajimobi, in a release from his Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo, in Ibadan on Saturday, said he received news of the incident which occurred late Friday as a rude shock.
According to him, the former governor was cerebral and possessed intellectual acumen with which he transformed Ondo state under his watch from 2003 to 2007.
“The death of the late former governor, who had been residing in Ibadan for decades and was one of the academics at the University of Ibadan where he taught Geology, who made the state thick as the intellectual capital of Nigeria, was a loss to the people of Oyo State in particular,” he said.
The governor also urged people to learn from the suddenness of the death and stop ‘building perishable material castles in this world without correspondingly building lasting legacies that will survive their sojourn on earth in the hearts of the people’.
“Dr. Agagu left imperishable legacies in Ondo State where he was governor between 2003 and 2007, and was particularly outstanding for the incomparable road infrastructure that he brought to the state.
“Dr. Agagu can never die; when the people tread those roads constructed by his administration in Ondo State, when they pass by those imperishable legacies he left, the foremost Geology teacher will live in their hearts and they will confront his great love for the people of the state afresh, even decades to come,” the governor said.
Mr. Ajimobi said it was not a coincidence that the death of the late former governor met him at a meeting where he was busy trying to chart a future for the people of Ondo State, maintaining that he was a patriot who believed that there was hope for Nigeria and his state, in spite of the challenges at hand.
The Oyo State governor, while praying for the repose of his soul, charged his wife and the children he left behind not to mourn Dr. Agagu’s departure but to celebrate a foremost politician with uncommon depth and patriotism.
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