Popular faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as other prominent Nigerians on Saturday described the death of former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu, as both shocking and a huge loss.
Condoling with the people of Ondo State and State Governor, Segun Mimiko, the NGF led by the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi said the incident occurred at a period the country urgently needed his services.
“For the NGF, it is unfortunate that Dr. Agagu, an excellent family man, a consummate politician and academic, and elder statesman passed on at a time our country needed his invaluable service most. His loss is no doubt a monumental loss to our nation.
“Between 2003 and 2009, Dr. Agagu was an influential member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. And during that time, the former governor showed he was a man on a mission to improve the lives of his Ondo people in particular and Nigerians in general. His was a voice of reason, moderation and peace at all times that Nigeria was faced with serious national challenges.
“Dr. Agagu’s departure is deeply painful. But we take solace in the fact that he lived and died well. He dedicated his life to serving his people and country. We are especially proud that the former governor lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation.”
NGF said that though the group cannot continue grieving over the death of Agagu, whom it called a “public-spirited community man”, it was sure that Dr. Agagu will long be remembered as a diligent, humble, patriotic, honest and philanthropic community organiser and leader.
Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, in a release signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Festus Adedayo in Ibadan, said he had not recovered from shock since hearing the news of Agagu’s death on Friday night.
He described the late former Governor as a brilliant man who brought his intelligence to the fore as Governor of Ondo State. Recalling how the late Agagu transformed Ondo, Aimobi said the death of the late former governor, who had been residing in Ibadan for decades, was shocking.
He recalled that Agagu was one of the academics at the University of Ibadan where he taught Geology, and made Oyo thick as the intellectual capital of Nigeria. He said it is a loss to the people of Oyo. According to him, Agagu left imperishable legacies in Ondo State where he was governor between 2003 and 2007, and 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.”
Governor Ajimobi used the opportunity to warn against the undue pursuit of materialism and that Nigerians must be conscious about vanity. He described the late Agagu as one who believed in the future of Nigeria and did everything he could to sustain the country’s unity, praying for strength for the family he left behind.
Senate President David Mark described the late Agagu as a dependable ally who Nigeria will continue to miss. In a condolence message signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark remarked that Agagu was a trust worthy and mature politician who played politics without bitterness, adding that throughout his lifetime, he neither pretended nor shied away from saying the truth no matter the circumstances.
“As a minister, Agagu distinguished himself as a goal-getter,” Mark said. “As the then Executive Governor of Ondo, he recorded impressive outing as a performing governor. As a political leader, he gave his people a sense of belonging.”
He expressed sympathy to the government and people of Ondo State and the bereaved family, saying that Nigeria had lost one of her best politicians.
Similarly, the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) also described the death of Agagu as the end of a glorious era, adding that he was a loyal party man and a diligent, principled person who stood on the side of the people at all times.
“From Agagu’s stint as a lecturer at the prestigious University of Ibadan, through his tenure as Minister of Aviation, to his election to the position of Governor of Ondo State and his life in retirement, the former governor remained with the people,” a statement from the forum signed Governor Aliyu’s spokesperson, Danladi Ndayebo said.
While praying for the repose of his soul, the group urged the Ondo State Government to immortalise him because of his contribution to the development of the state.
For the PDP, the late Agagu was a patriot and a brilliant technocrat who discharged his responsibilities both as minister and governor with finesse.
In another statement issued on Saturday, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh prayed for eternal rest for the late PDP chieftain, adding: “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. We wish to put on record, his pioneer contributions to the groundwork of the current power reforms of the Federal Government.
“On behalf of National Chairman of our great party, Dr. Bamaga Tukur, 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.”
Former National Deputy Chairman of the PDP, Yekini Adeojo, said he was still in shock learning that the former governor who came into the country on Thursday hale and hearty just died suddenly.
Another chieftain of the party, Lekan Balogun described him as “a gentleman, a politician and an intellectual of note, whose contributions would be strongly missed.”
Former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Dejo Raimi, said he was more pained because Agagu died a young man.
“He was not suffering from any chronic disease,” he noted. “I think I will seek clarification from the family whether the death was sudden or expected.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State Chapter, said, through Moojed Olaoya, a chieftain of the party, that “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.”
The chairman, Nigeria Voter’s Assembly, Moshood Erubami said Mr. Agagu’s death was painful because it came at a time leaders in the country are putting heads together to move the nation forward.
The Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in its condolence message through its chairman, Taiwo Taiwo, said Agagu made his impact both as a lecturer and a governor.
“It is a very great loss and may his soul rest in peace. As governor of Ondo state, he made his mark and did his best towards impacting the state positively. He was very known in his profession as a geologist and he taught many students at UI.”
For human rights lawyer, Fred Agbaje, “one can only commiserate with his family. He brought his intellectual background on politics. He never saw politics as a game of do or die. May his soul rest in peace.”
President, Voters Awareness Initiative, said: “He too has come, he has played his part and he is gone. I just want to pray that God will grant him eternal rest. The only lesson here is that whenever you have an opportunity to serve humanity, do it right because you will go back to your maker one day.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Feyi Agagu, the first son of the late former governor, has revealed that his father was hypertensive. He explained that his late father recently had a medical examination that revealed he had a little cholesterol, and was hypertensive.
“There is diabetics in our family, but it’s nothing major,” Feyi said. “It was just something he had been dealing with for the past 10 to 15 years. So, there was no inkling that something was about to happen.”
He revealed that his mother was distraught, having lost her best friend and husband, who passed away on his way to St Nicholas Hospital.
“My father had the usual illness that comes with age, so there was no stand out cause for his passing,” he said.
“He lived a simple but fulfilled and happy life. He left amazing memories and fantastic legacies behind. I will miss the friendship; I will miss the advice; he was pretty much anything any wife, son or daughter could ask for in a father. He was a mentor to many, a brother, a benefactor; I’m sure a lot of people will miss him.”
He recalled that his father showed no sign of illness at the family’s recently concluded annual two-and-a-half week family vacation.
“I guess when it’s time to go, when your maker comes to get you, when he brought you, he did not ask anybody, so he can take you when he sees fit,” he said.