PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN
SAN FRANCISCO, September 14, (THEWILL) – President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has described the deceased former Governor of Ondo State and ex Minister of Aviation and Power, Dr Olusegun Agagu, as a man whose exemplary decorum, poise, urbanity, finesse and loyalty in the conduct of politics will be greatly missed in national politics.
Agagu, 65, slumped and died inside his Lagos residence on Friday night.
In a statement by Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on media and Publicity, President Jonathan expressed immense sadness over his death.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has received with immense sadness, news of the passing away of the former Minister of Aviation and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.
“On behalf of himself, the Federal Government and the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to Dr. Agagu’s family, the government and people of Ondo State, as well as Dr. Agagu’s friends, political associates and colleagues in Ondo State and other parts of the country.
“The President joins them in mourning the distinguished academic whose exemplary decorum, poise, urbanity, finesse and loyalty in the conduct of politics will be greatly missed by all, especially his colleagues and associates in the Peoples Democratic Party.
“As they mourn however, President Jonathan believes that they can take solace in the knowledge that Dr. Agagu has left behind a legacy of notable achievements in his illustrious public service career at the state and federal levels which will stand to his eternal credit and honour.
“The President prays that God Almighty will comfort all who mourn Dr. Agagu and grant his soul peaceful repose, the statement said.
Imoke Says His Demise Untimely, Unfortunate
Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke has expressed grief over what he described as the sudden and painful death of Agagu.
Describing the former governor’s death as sad and unfortunate, Imoke, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, recalled his time with the late governor as Minister of Power, describing him as an astute administrator, a consummate professional and a team player.
Describing the demise of Agagu as untimely and saddening, he said: “It is with a great sense of shock and loss that I received the sad news. Nigeria, Ondo State and the PDP will definitely miss him, particularly at a time his wealth of experience is needed most.”
While praying God to grant the family of the deceased, his associates and Ondo people the fortitude to bear the loss, he urged that they take consolation in the fact that the former governor lived a life of selfless service to his fatherland.
Governor Imoke added that “Agagu would be sorely missed.”
PDP Expresses Deep Sorrow
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grief over the death of the former governor.
A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Chief Olisa Metuh described late Agagu as a patriot and a brilliant technocrat who discharged his responsibilities both as minister and governor with finesse.
“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. 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. Bamanga Tukur, CON, 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,” the party wrote.
Agagu’s Death Left Me Hollow, Empty – Oni
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni has said that Agagu’s death left him personally hollow and empty.
Reacting to his death through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Lere Olayinka, the former governor said; “This death has robbed us of one of the finest gentlemen, intellectuals and patriots in Nigerian politics.
“This death has left me personally hollow and empty. I am indeed short of words.
“Right now, all that we can do is to pray for the family.
“It is my prayer that the good Lord will grant the deceased eternal rest and also grant his family, we his associate, members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State and the entire people of the State the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“May his soul rest in peace.”
Ajimobi Shocked By Agagu’s Sudden Death
The governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has expressed shock at the demise of the politician, stating that Ibadan, the South West and indeed Nigeria had lost one of their most cerebral and intellectual politicians ever.
He made this known in a release issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo.
According to him, 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.
Ajimobi said he received the death of Dr. Agagu with rude shock because he possessed the intellectual wherewithal to chart the path of resolution of the Nigeria’s current socio-political logjam.
The governor said the sudden death of the former governor should be a lesson to all those whom he said were 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.
The Oyo State governor recalled that Dr. Agagu left imperishable legacies in Ondo State where he was governor between 2003 and 2007, stating that he 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.
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 looming 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.
“The easiest path to tread is to weep at his demise but I urge his family to take solace in the fact that death is personal to every individual; we will all die our death at the appointed time as Dr. Agagu died his. He left footprints that will be difficult to erase by even his greatest traducers,” the governor said.
Agagu Will Be Missed For His Brilliance – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the late former Governor as a consummate politician who would be missed for his sagacity and skillfulness both in politics and public administration.
Atiku, in a condolence message on the demise of the immediate governor of the Sunshine state, noted that Agagu’s death came with a personal pain to him, “because he was a friend, and a brilliant strategist.”
Atiku noted that “late Governor Olusegun Agagu not only sat eminently among politicians of note in the country, his contribution to Geology, his area of specialization is also very impressive.
“Be it in politics, scholarly undertakings or public administration, the late Governor Agagu was a first class material. I will miss him as a friend, but the country will miss him as a worthy citizen and leader,” Atiku said.
The former Vice President extended his sympathies to the late governor’s family, the people and government of Ondo State and Nigerians as whole over the loss of a worthy scholar, thinker and leader.
His Death Is Shocking – Adedoja
A former Minister of Sports and Special Duties, Professor Taoheed Adedoja has described Agagu’s death as shocking.
In a brief statement on Saturday, Professor Adedoja said, “The death of former governor Agagu is shocking. As if he had premonition of his death, a few months ago during the meeting of South West PDP leaders held in Abuja, Dr. Agagu stood up to tender apolology to those he may have offended while he was governor of Ondo State and also when he left office.
“For that rare gesture of statesmanship, Dr Agagu was given a standing ovation by all PDP leaders present.
“May his soul rest in peace as he stood for peace in the politics of PDP in the South West.”
About the Author
