Ex-governor Lam Adesina dies at 73

Daily Trust [12/11/12]

Written by YemiBamidele, Ibadan&Turaki Hassan, Abuja

Former governor of Oyo State Alhaji Lam Adesina died in the early hours of yesterday at a Lagos private hospital, aged 73 years. 

Adesina was governor between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), and was until his death the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Oyo State

He was born in Ikija in Oluyole Local Government Area of the state.

Until his death, the former governor had been suffering diabetes over which he was hospitalized at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan about a month ago, from where he was moved to St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos where he died.

The late Adesina began his journey to political stardom in 1979 with his election into the House of Representatives on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

A product of Loyola College, Ibadan, Adesinaattended the University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in History.

He was a school teacher, rising to become a principal until his foray into full time politics at the advent of the Second Republic in 1978.

A prolific writer, the late Adesina was a thorn in the flesh of the military government and one of his rough encounters landed him in prison when he was declared ‘Prisoner of War’ by the then Military Administrator of Oyo State, Colonel Ahmed Usman.

Governor AbiolaAjimobi of Oyo State yesterday formally announced the passing away of the late Adesina.

In a statement, Ajimobi’s spokesman Festus Adedayo said Adesinadied during a protracted illness. He would have been 74 in January.

He was to be buried at 4pm yesterday at his Felele, Ibadan residence according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, the state government has declared a seven-day mourning period for the late Adesina, who was a former teacher of Governor Ajimobi.

During the mourning, all state functions will be suspended and the national flag flown at half mast.

Ajimobi said Adesinawas “a dedicated patriot, foremost defender of democracy and human rights, and political war-horse who had always stood on the side of truth.”

In his condolence message, House of Representatives speaker AminuWaziriTambuwal said Adesina’s death was a monumental loss to the country.

He said the deceased lived an exemplary life whose hallmarks were dedication to duty and sacrifice for the common good.In a statement issued by his spokesman Imam Imam in Abuja, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to emulate the late Adesina’s positive attitude to nation building.

Also, former National Action Council (NAC) presidential candidate OlapadeAgoro has paid tribute to the late Adesina.

“Obviously since what has a beginning must have an end, the news therefore of the death of Alhaji Lam Adesina must be seen and accepted as the closing chapter of a story begun lowly but ended on good note of success.”