Dancing On Senator Adeleke’s Grave by Osun Govt, Family

By Olabode Abolaji

The death of the first civilian Governor of Osun State, Isiaka Adeleke in the early hours of Sunday April 23rd, 2017 still shocks the mind of an average Osun indigene on what could have caused the sudden demise of a man described by many as a philanthropist, astute politician, charismatic individual and an enigma with a Midas touch.

For the people of Ede, his hometown, it is one of those losses that has created a big vacuum to fill in leadership, philanthropy among other traits required to be an excellent human being.

Indeed, the two-term Senator was a great man until his death, cutting across all strata of governance, fronts and of human endeavour. That was and is why most people are still yet to come to terms on how this man touted by many as one of the favourites to lead the state once again could die “just like that.” His death was cheap!

Immediately the senator’s death news filtered in, the state government and the APC whom he rose on its platform to represent Osun West Senatorial District  at the Nigerian Senate for the second time were quick to react with words like “Shocking, Sad, Sudden, Disturbing” and varying adjectives flooding several tributes.

For Governor Rauf Aregbesola who was in company of other governors at the Nigeria-China business forum in China, he was quick to tweet several messages of sorrow and tributes with a lengthy personal tribute titled “ERIN WO, AJANAKU SUN BI OKE, A TITAN IS GONE.”

Adeleke’s death shook Osun State: There was violent protest in Ede; following the speculations that their benefactor was possibly poisoned at a party he attended where he reportedly ate in Kuta, Ayedire Local Government of the state. The Deputy Governor of the state, Mrs Titi-Laoye Tomori was at the party hosted by the Osun-West Senatorial Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Yinusa Amobi with the deceased. Though, Adeleke attended other functions before and after the Amobi’s party, the supporters of the deceased and some indigenes of Ede were and are still hostile to Iwo Federal Constituency, with an impression that politicians in the region were behind the senator’s death. How wrong that impression is is arguable.

From Political to Religious, Associates to Educational, Domestic staff to the immediate family, suffice it is to say that everybody was and is still bereaved on Adeleke’s death. Perhaps, the fact that led to the unruly behaviour of some individuals who kept it in their minds that the death came from “Somewhere”.

The burial was not peaceful as somebody was attacked with threats of attacking those who were perceived to be Adeleke’s political enemies because of his momentum gathering campaign steps for 2018 in Osun, if they ever come near the venue of the burial. On the day of the senator’s death, NTA news crew was attacked by the Ede indigenes who were protesting Adeleke’s death by burning tires on the major roads that lead to the community.

Some of the people who were at the burial programme were frightened when some angry protesters attacked Ms. Idiat Babalola, a commissioner nominee of Aregbesola. Babalola was rescued by Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun from the hands of the  attackers who believed Adeleke was killed because of his 2018 governorship ambition.

Two days after the burial, the family of the deceased led by Dr Deji Adeleke, Isiaka’s younger brother addressed a press conference where he appreciated those who condoled the family over the death of the sitting senator. He was however quick to distance the family from what had happened during the burial which many believed was targeted at the ruling APC especially the state’s leadership. Dr Deji Adeleke failed to acknowledge the Osun State government, Aregbesola or any state government or party officials who sympathized with them. That act sent messages to the mind of people observing unfolding events after Adeleke’s death.

Few days to the eight day Fidau prayers for the deceased, the Osun State government came up with a statement that Adeleke being the first Civilian Governor of the state should have been given a state burial but for the tensed atmosphere of the area and violent and unruly behaviour of some mourners who were crying more than the bereaved during the funeral rites.

After the burial, the government went ahead to set up of a coroner inquest into the death following several controversies linking it to the ugly incident with a deadline and mandate to get the true picture of what actually led to the death.

Exactly five days after the Fidau prayer for Adeleke, it was an avenue for the Governor to address issues germane to the state and present his scorecard for the last six and a half years to the people. Byt the programme later turned into a jamboree as about two out of the six hours designated for the OGBENI TILL DAYBREAK programme was used to dance and merry.

Then, the bomb came, as the Adeleke family the third day after the OgbeniTillDayBreak had a press conference where it disassociated itself from the coroner inquest set-up by the state. It affirmed that the only platform to know the cause of the death is the autopsy ordered immediately after the late Senator gave up the ghost.

Dr Deji Adeleke maintained that coroner was self-serving and political.

With these statements, obviously, the two sides got it wrong. Both the government and the Adeleke family were quick to have taken some steps contrary to best practices and the normal norm in climes such as Osun.

The Adeleke family and the state government acted emotionally and immaturely. The Adeleke family by indications is harbouring ill feelings against the state government which is not needed while the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration is not being careful and matured in handling the events after Adeleke’s death.

Utterances and body language from the senator’s family complicated the matter. It is apparent that the family does not want the cause of Adeleke’s death to be known to the public, which might be part of the reasons for the rejection of the coroner.  The family should have come out boldly to stop the speculations and controversies on the Adeleke’s death.

However, the state government caved in for the speculations by issuing a statement explaining why Governor Rauf Aregbesola did not attend the burial programme and stylishly reminding members of the public that Adeleke had been attacked by some PDP leaders which prompted his defection to APC. Also, setting up the coroner is an indication that the state government is on the defence of a frivolous accusation. It was too quick to have organized such a panel, knowing that there is an autopsy report being waited for.

The coroner’s panel is irrelevant as it is currently making some section of the public believing that the state has something to cover up in the midst of several allegations on Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke’s death. Maybe, that is why the family is insisting on not giving its backing to such arrangement and refusing the inquest in its entirety.

And to the OGBENI TILL DAY BREAK experience, the atmosphere of the state at that moment calls for a sober reflection on what many still describe as a colossal loss to the entire state. But, reverse was the case as the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at every available point during the programme, called for music throughout the six hour exercise leaving a poser in the minds of people. Going by the condition of the state where many still mourn the first civil helmsman of the state and a sitting senator, does the jamboree not mean like dancing on the grave of the deceased? As many people are still saying , the programme should have been postponed for at least a week.

Both the  state government and the Adeleke family disrespect the soul of the Asiwaju of Edeland. Serubawon should have been allowed to rest in peace after an eventful life chronicled by the good and bad aspects for his creator to give him his deserved verdict on the last day.

“The face-off between the Adeleke family and the Osun state government is quite unfortunate. It serves no noble cause nor the good memory of the dead. There has to be a more matured and circumspection at a time like this. The sudden death of Senator Isiaka Adeleke is a terrible loss for the state. If it is the wish of the Adeleke family that the state government wait for the autopsy before any inquest, such a demand should be respected. The controversies generated by Senator Adeleke’s death and the raging fire of mistrust and division should be doused in the overall interest of all stakeholders. If death truly is the end of every mortar, then there is the need for the Adeleke family and Osun state government to be on the same page on this matter”, said a veteran journalist, Mr Wale Olayemi. The coroner and autopsy are to achieve one aim: revealing the circumstances surrounding Adeleke’s death.  For transparency and objectivity, the state government and the Adeleke Family need to cooperate with each other on the investigation.

To the gladiators who may want to score political points on the death of the foremost politician, it is a failed plan, it cannot travel far. We all need to respectively and sincerely commiserate with the family and pray for Allah’s utmost guidance for the wife and children.