Osun Sets Up Inquest Into Isiaka Adeleke's Death

An inquest into the death of Osun State’s first civilian governor, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, was announced yesterday.

A “special statement” by the state government said the move became imperative to put the record straight, following the disruption of the burial arrangements by some “miscreants masquerading as mourners”.

The statement alleged that the unruly behaviour of the self-acclaimed mourners stopped friends and political associates from paying their last respects to the late Adeleke, who until his death at 62 on April 23, was the Senator representing Osun West District.

“Senator Adeleke was a man of peace. He preached peace and lived it through his life. He left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because he could not stand violence. This was after he was beaten up by some leaders of the PDP during a meeting in a hotel in Osogbo.

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

“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.

“We continue to mourn the untimely death of Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. He is irreplaceable in our hearts. We commiserate with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends, constituents and generality of our peopleon the passage of this patriot. As we pray for the repose of his soul, we equally pray for the strength to bear this heavy loss.”

Edited from The Nation