Agagu’s Ibadan residence deserted as politicians mourn

The Bodija, Ibadan, residence of the late former governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu, was on Saturday morning deserted.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the residence at about 9.00am, reports that no family member or sympathiser was sighted.

NAN reports that Agagu, who returned from United States on Thursday, reportedly slumped in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he was having a meeting with Ondo indigenes on Friday evening.

Mr Yemi Olowolabi, Agagu’s former Chief Press Secretary, said that the former governor was not sick and had just returned from a 20-day trip abroad.

At the Bodija residence of the late university of Ibadan teacher, the two policemen on duty told NAN that the family members of the deceased were all in Lagos.

“Papa died in Lagos and that is why all his family members are not in Ibadan. We are the only ones in the house for now,” the policeman said.

Eminent politicians in Oyo state, however, have continued to pay tributes to Agagu.

Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, the former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP, said that he received the news of Agagu’s death as a rude shock.

Adeojo said he could not close his mouth when he heard about the news, adding that what he knew was that Agagu returned to the country hale and hearty on Thursday.

He described his death as a big loss to the nation.

Also speaking, Chief Lekan Balogun, a PDP chieftain, described Agagu’s death as a tragic loss to the nation.

“He was a gentleman, a politician and an intellectual of note, whose contributions would be strongly missed,” he said.

In his reaction, Chief Dejo Raimi, the former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, said it was unfortunate that Agagu died young.

“He was not suffering from any chronic disease. I think I will seek clarification from the family whether the death was sudden or expected.

“It is most sad that I have heard up to seven deaths within 48 hours after I celebrated my 80th birthday on earth,” Raimi said.

The PDP in Oyo State also described Agagu’s death as shocking and a big loss to the nation.

The party, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr Kehinde Salawu, said that Agagu was an intellectual, who was most needed now

Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State Chapter, said it was unfortunate that Nigeria lost someone of Agagu’s calibre.

The party, through Mr Moojed Olaoya, the Secretary of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), described his death as an irreparable loss.

“It is unfortunate that the nation is gradually losing some of its important people. It is a big loss to the academic community, Ondo State and the nation at large,” he said.

Chief Tunde Anifowose, the National Chairman, Action Alliance, said that Agagu died at a time the nation needed him most.

Also reacting, Mr Moshood Erubami, the chairman, Nigeria Voter’s Assembly, said that Agagu’s death was painful.

Erubami said it was unfortunate that Agagu’s death came when people were coming together to move the nation forward.

“He was one of the materials needed to move Nigeria forward. We will miss him a lot,” he said.

NAN reports that Agagu, born on Feb.16, 1948, was the deputy governor of Ondo State between 1991 and 1993, emerging as elected governor in 2003.

He vacated the position immediately his appeal against the earlier judgment that declared Dr Olusegun Mimiko winner of the 2007 gubernatorial election in the state failed on Feb. 23, 2009.(NAN)