TheCable

The Osun state government has set up an inquest concerning the death of Isiaka Adeleke who until his death was representing Osun west constituency in the senate.

In a statement on Sunday, Rauf Aregbesola, the governor, said the state is poised to unravel the circumstances surrounding the violence that heralded his burial.

Adeleke’s burial had witnessed pockets of violence, including protests. Aggrieved youth in Ede, hometown of the deceased, also attacked one of Aregbesola’s aide at the burial.

The governor described as most unfortunate the “atmosphere of fear and terror” that was created during the burial.

He said a thorough investigation will be carried out in relation to the incident “so as to out the records straight on Adeleke’s death”

“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,” he said in a statement.

“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.

“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.”

Aregbesola described Adeleke as a man who had preached peace and lived it throughout his lifetime.

“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,” he said.

“They dishonoured him and did his memory a great disservice by keeping his friends, political associates and well-wishers away from his burial.

“The best we could do in the circumstance was to declare three days of mourning throughout the state and fly national, state and our party’s flags at half-mast in his honour.”