Akinlade Griefs Over Ogunpola, Coker, Pepper, Akinkungbe's Deaths

Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade

Michael-Azeez Ogunsiji 

ABEOKUTA - A renowned politician and Federal Commissioner at the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade has expressed deep sadness over the demise of four prominent leaders in Ogun and Lagos and Ondo states, describing their deaths as great loss to the entire Southwest region.

Akinlade explained that he received the deaths of these great personalities unexpectedly because they all left this world at a time their states and the nation needs their wealth of experience most to survive.

THE ENCOUNTER NEWS reports that, the deaths of Prof. George Akinola Ogunpola, Chief David Adeyemi Coker, Prof. Oladipipo Akinkugbe, and Senator Adebola Osinowo (Pepperito) were announced on Monday. 

Akinlade noted that Pa Akin Ogunpola, Chief Adeyemi Coker and Prof. Akinkugbe and Senator Osiniwo were great sources of inspiration and role models in public service with their modest lifestyles, loyalty and commitments to duties. 

He stated that the elderstatesmen distinguished themselves with excellent services to their immediate communities, their states and Nigeria at large by contributing immensely in education, health, commerce and industry sectors.

He posited that, Pa. Akinola Ogunpola legacies left while he served the state and the nation as a foremost educationist has continued to be the reference point to past and present public office holders in education sector.

He said "Baba was diligent, hardworking, knowledgeable and upright. Baba was indeed a complete man."

Speaking on late Chief David Coker, who also served as a commissioner for Commerce and Industry alongside Pa. Ogunpola between 1979-1983, the Federal Commissioner described Chief Coker as "a man full of humor and words of wisdom, a man who is loved by old and young."

Reacting to Prof. Akinkugbe demise, Akinlade said Nigeria and the world has lost a man who distinguished himself in areas of medicine and academics. 

He described Prof. Akinkugbe as a great teacher whose knowledge has impacted hundreds of thousands of young and old scholars in area of medicine.

Describing Senator Osinowo as humane, humble and a symbol of consistent and loyalty, Hon. Akinlade said Lagos State and Nigeria has lost a vocal voice of the grassroots whose political journey has been to be the voice of his people as a legislator.

Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade who is also Baba Adinni of Yewa land described their deaths as a great lost to their states and Nigeria at large. 

He therefore, expressed his heartfelt condolences to the deceased families and associates while praying that "God grant those left behind the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.