Rt Honourable Kehinde Ayoola’s Death Comes As Shock, Our Party Has Lost Gallant Soldier — Oyo PDP

By Henry Odeh

Oyo state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed rude shock at the demise of the honorable commissioner for environment and natural resources, Rt Hon Kehinde Ayoola, describing it as very sad, unfortunate and loss of a gallant soldier in the service of the state.

The ruling party in a press statement by its state publicity secretary, Engr. Akeem Olatunji, stated that the death of the former Speaker has thrown Oyo state PDP into a sad and mourning mood.

According to the statement, the ruling party stressed that even though the deceased was until his death a PDP faithful whose intellectual skills and administrative acumen endeared him to many other politician across party line, the ruling party has lost a great human asset to the cold hand of death.

The statement reads: “The Oyo state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) received with a very rude the unfortunate news of late Commissioner For Environment And Natural Resources, Rt Hon Kehinde Ayoola who could be described as a gallant soldier, a dedicated and loyal party faithful, and a humane fellow to all that encountered him while he was alive.

“Just when the PDP family in Oyo state was trying hard to get over the demise of late Chief Richard Akinjide at a ripe old age, who was one of the party’s founders and a foremost legal luminary in Nigeria, death struck again taking away one of the finest politician the state has produced.

“We as a political party are in deep sober and mourning mood because late Hon Ayoola left us when his wealth of experience and versatility are greatly needed as the governor continues to chart a new course for the state economic growth and development within the ambient of very scarce resources.

“The intelligence and intellectual prowess of late Hon Ayoola led to his emergence as the first Speaker of Oyo state House of Assembly after the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999.

“He continued to fill one exalted public and party office within and outside the state including working with our God Sent Man or Governor Seyi Makinde (GSM) as Deputy Director General Seyi Makinde Campaign Organization prior to the 2019 governorship election in the state.

“Late Kehinde Ayoola was always keenly interested in the development and progress of Oyo state without prejudice or discrimination of any kind.

“He was always calm, friendly, and a good listener which are parts of the qualities that endeared him to so many politicians across party lines, obviously PDP family in Oyo state and Nigeria at large has lost a great human asset.

“We are deeply sad and words could never be able to express the pain PDP family is going through across the length and breadth of Oyo state because his skills and qualities will be sorely missed forever, obviously his death justifies a philosophical saying that the wealthiest place on earth is the graveyard.

“The entire PDP family in Oyo state deeply commiserate with the family of late Rt Honourable Kehinde Ayoola, his lovely and supportive wife and children, and we pray that God in His infinite mercies grant them fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

“PDP as the ruling party particularly commiserate with the executive governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde, we believe that the Lord will strengthen him and grant him the willpower to manage the emotional pain the demise of his loyal and dedicated friend has brought upon us.”