Adeleke: Osun Cancels Workers’ Day Celebration, Sets Up Inquest
SAN FRANCISCO, May 01, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun state, on Monday , canceled the Workers Day celebration in honour of a former Governor of the state and serving Senator representing Osun West Senatorial District, Isiaka Adeleke, who died on Sunday , April, 23.
The State NLC chairman, Jacob Adekomi revealed that the body took the decision to honour Adeleke who was the state's first civilian governor between 1992 and 1993 adding that the Islamic Fidau prayer for Adeleke also falls on Workers' Day.
THEWILL recalls that Adeleke's death had thrown up suspicions and speculations about the cause leading to protests during his burial and reports that he was killed by treatments from a 'quack' medical personnel as the report of an autopsy ordered by the family has not been released.
Meanwhile, the state Government has ordered an inquest to ascertain the cause of death.
A statement by the state government said the move became imperative to put the record straight, following the disruption of the burial arrangements by some miscreants masquerading as mourners.
The statement alleged that the unruly behaviour of the self-acclaimed mourners stopped friends and political associates from paying their last respects to the late Adeleke.
“We are still in shock and great pain over the transition of our friend, associate and brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He was a prominent son of our state and its first democratically elected governor,” the statement read.
“Until his death, he was the senator representing Osun West in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was an astute and colourful politician and a generous personality. He was gregarious, enthusiastic and full of life and zest. His death is therefore shocking and totally unexpected.
“The State Government of Osun had intended to give him a befitting state burial which he rightly deserved and which the state had prepared to undertake.
“Regrettably, however, the enemies of the state, through brigandage, violence and evil machinations, created an atmosphere of fear and terror in the minds of our citizenry and friends throughout the federation.
“Immediately the news of his demise filtered in, a band of vagabonds, crying more than the bereaved, took to the streets, looting and wreaking havoc. Journalists were roughened and their equipment damaged. Important dignitaries that came for the burial were equally molested by these thugs.
“Senator Adeleke was a man of peace. He preached peace and lived it through his life. He left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he could not stand violence. This was after he was beaten up by some leaders of the PDP during a meeting in a hotel in Osogbo.
“It is a profound irony and most unfortunate therefore that a few disgruntled elements purporting to protest his death desecrated his funeral with violence and attacks on innocent persons. They dishonoured him and did his memory a great disservice by keeping his friends, political associates and well-wishers away from his burial.
“In the light of this, the State Government of Osun, using the instrumentality of the law, is setting up an inquest to unravel the circumstances of this unfortunate and sad incident, in order to put the record straight on his death.
“We continue to mourn the untimely death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He is irreplaceable in our hearts. We commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends, constituents and generality of our people on the passage of this patriot. As we pray for the repose of his soul, we equally pray for the strength to bear this heavy loss.”