Lam Adesina: More Nigerians react

Oyo PDP, ex-speaker commiserate with family
By Moses Alao
THE Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commiserated with the family of Alhaji Lamidi Adesina, the state government and the people of the state, describing the death as “a great loss to the people of the state.”
According to the public relations officer (PRO) of the party, Mr Kehinde Salawu, the death of Lam Adesina was painful, but he urged the people to take heart that the deceased lived as a leader.
In a related development, the speaker of the state House of Assembly during Lam Adesina’s tenure as governor, Honour-able Asimiyu Alarape, also commiserated with the family and political associates of the late politician, saying “on behalf of the members of the fourth session of the state House of Assembly, I commiserate with the entire family of Alhaji Adesina.”
He prayed Allah to grant repose to the soul of the politician, saying “the Great Lam’s outstanding qualities shall be remembered by all.”
He was bold, selfless —Oyebola
CHIEF Areoye Oyebola, the initiator and chairman of the Movement for Nigeria’s Total Transformation (MNTT), expressed his condolences over the death of the late governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adesina.
“Nigeria has lost an intensely patriotic leader, who exercised genuine gift of leadership throughout his life.
“Lam Adesina was my very close friend of over 50 years and he will be greatly missed at this hour when our ever tottering country badly needs its best citizens to rescue it from the pit where it now lies prostrate.
“He was very bold, selfless, altruistic and humane. Nigeria will miss a great educationist, a man of deep knowledge, a thoughtful columnist and a man of uncompromising integrity who was always kind to a fault,” he said.
Eleruwa commiserates with Lam’s family, Ajimobi
By Nurudeen Alimi
THE Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola, commiserated with the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the family of the late Alhaji Lam Adesina, over the death of the former governor.
In a condolence letter signed by Oba Adegbola and sent to Governor Ajimobi and the Adesina family through High Chief Adefemi Atanda and High Chief Idowu Oke, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, the traditional ruler said “the news of the death of Alhaji Adesina came to me as a shock.
“However, we need to give thanks to God, the owner of our lives, who can decide to take it anytime He likes. One very important thing to note is that Baba Lam made indelible marks in life. The role he played in the politics of Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole cannot be easily forgotten.
“I, therefore, use this medium to condole with the Adesina family, the governor of Oyo State, Senator Ajimobi and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, as well as the good people of Oyo State over the demise of the former NADECO member.
“I pray that Allah, the most merciful and the most benficial, would be with the family he left behind and all his political associates.”
He was an advocate of genuine democracy —Odu’a
By Nurudeen Alimi
ODU’A Investment Company Limited joined other Nigerians to mourn the former governor, Alhaji Lam Adesina.
The company, in a letter of condolence signed by its Group Managing Director, Mr Adebayo Jimoh and sent to the widow, Alhaja Saratu Adesina, described the late Lam as “a columnist, defender of defenceless, voice of the voiceless, advocate of genuine democracy and true federalism.”
The late Adesina, according to Odu’a Investment Company, was a nationalist who stood for that which Nigeria required to progress in the comity of nations.
“Alhaji Lam Adesina died at a time when his wealth of experience and administrative acumen were needed to navigate through the challenging political situation of the moment.
“We in Odu’a Investment Comapny Limited are, however, consoled that he contributed positively to the development of the society during his life time and he left an indelible footprint on the sand of time. He left a legacy of service, honesty and hardwork,” the letter read.
The company prayed God to grant the late Lam eternal rest and the family, state government and people of the state the fortitude to bear the loss.
Learn from Lam's exemplary life, ex-UPN chieftain charges
By Kunle Oderemi
A chieftain of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Chief Kayode Olowu, on Monday, counselled other politicins to take a cue from the exemplary political lifestyle of the deceased former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesna, who died on Sunday.
In a condolence message he sent to the Adesina family, Chief Olowu said the late Lam would be remembered for standing on the side of the people during critical phases in the life of the nation.
The septugenarian also said the avalanche of encomiums that had continued to trail his death showed that “Nigerians know and appreciate leaders who see public office as a call to service and not an avenue to shortchange the system and, indeed, the citizenry.”  
According to Olowu, Lam would be remembered for abiding with the principles that leadership was about service, fighting for the rights of the people and not using public offices for personal aggrandisement.
“This is one fundamental lesson that other politicians must learn and cultivate. That is the only way we can build a better society where corruption and other vices appear to be the way of life among some politicians in the country,” he noted.
While commiserating with the family of the deceased, Pa Olowu said Lam had immortalised himself through exemplary lifestyle, commitment to democratic ideals and show of courage during critical moments in the history of the country. 
It’s a great loss —Oyo ALGON
THE Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Oyo State described Alhaji Lam Adesina’s death as a great loss to Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.
In a statement by its chairman and secretary, Messrs Yekeen Popoola and Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye respectively, the association said Oyo State and Nigeria would miss the astute leadership, forthrightness and political mentoring of Lam.
“Lam Adesina’s death is a great loss, not only to Oyo State but to Nigeria at large. In his days as a pro-democracy campaigner, Alhaji Lam Adesina stood for the truth, fought for the people and remained dogged to the end.
“Also as the governor of the Pace Setter state, Alhaji Adesina embarked on projects that improved education standards and the general well-being of the populace.
“The masses and the entire good people of Oyo State, particularly those at the grass roots, will continue to miss the Great Lam. We seek solace in the fact that he was fulfilled as a leader of men and that he lived for the masses,” the statement said.
Lam’s death, an irreparable loss  —Alaafin
By Adeolu Adeyemo
The president, Oyo State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Imperial Majesty, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, on Monday, described the former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina’s death as a great blow to the country.
Oba Adeyemi, who said this while answering questions from newsmen after he received an award of excellence by the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, referred to his death as an irreparable one which would be impossible to be erased from the minds of many Nigerians.
While charging members of the deceased’s family to remain steadfast in God, he prayed to God to give them the fortitude to bear the inexplicable loss.
Speaking on the award given to him by the university institute, the traditional ruler said the award was given to him as a result of his contributions to the development and uplifting of African culture.
He, however, appealed to youths to embrace their culture at all times and identify themselves with their race.
Great Lam irreplaceable —Adewusi
Rotimi Ige
A former governorship aspirant of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Oyo State, Dr Adebayo Adewusi, has described the death of the leader of the party in the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, as “a monumental  tragedy for progressive forces in  Nigeria.”
Though he said the party would miss his leadership prowess and role as the unifying factor, particularly in Oyo State, Dr Adewusi, who is the chairman of WEMABOD Estates Ltd, said the party would honour him by living his dream and working to sustain a united, indivisible ACN in the state.
“The death of Great Lam is a great loss to all of us his followers and his many political sons.
“It is a very serious tragedy for progressive politicians in Nigeria. He was a father of progressive politics.
“We are going to miss him dearly. Our prayer is that his death would not mark a serious problem for our party, because he was the unifying force, especially in Oyo State.
“There is no doubt that his death will affect our party. A great number of us depended on his tutelage and mentorship.  He had been a father and  a teacher. We have all learnt from his experience, but definitely, our party will remain united,” Adewusi said.