EMOTIONS ran high on Monday at the Lagos house of the lawmaker representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Adebayo Osinowo, aka Pepper, after the news of his death broke.
Some sympathizers, who converged on the house on Ogudu Estate, Kosofe Local Government Area, lamented the passing of the lawmaker, whom they described as their benefactors.
It was learnt that the remains of the lawmaker would be moved from the hospital to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, where he would be buried according to Islamic rites.
The Chairman, Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, Princess Samiat Bada, while addressing mourners, who besieged the deceased’s house, said, “I am begging you in the name of Allah; there is no social distancing here. Leave and go home. Pray that God will repose his soul. Please go home.”
Osinowo is the fourth senator to die in the 9th Senate, since its inauguration one year ago.
The Senate, in a statement by the Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Ajibola Basiru, said the demise of the lawmaker “has dug a gorge in the political ranks of the progressives in the Senate and in Nigeria.”
The Red Chamber added that, “He (Osinowo) was a workaholic lawmaker, whose experience in the politics of the nation, Lagos and the Senate, cannot be discountenanced. The Senate has lost one of its best brains,” the statement added.
Lawan, in a statement by his media office, said the deceased served his country creditably as a distinguished senator at the ninth Senate, which marked its first anniversary only last week.
The National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a statement he personally signed, said he was “deeply hurt” by Osinowo’s death.
“His death hurts all who know him. Bayo was more than an excellent politician. As great a politician he was, Bayo was an even better person. He was a man of a kind heart and ready smile. His loyalty and enthusiasm was legendary, just as his generosity,” Tinubu said.
Also, Senator Gbenga Ashafa expressed sadness at the death of the lawmaker, who succeeded him (Ashafa) at the Senate.
“Senator Osinowo was a dear friend and political associate with whom I have built a relationship that has lasted over two decades.
“Senator Osinowo was a committed leader in the All Progressives Congress who always placed the interest of the party before his,” he said.
The APC, Lagos State, said, “Pepper, as he was widely known, will be remembered for his wise counsel, mature leadership, loyalty to the party and commitment to democratic ideals,” the statement, signed by the party’s spokesman, Seye Oladejo, said.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), mourned the death of the senator, saying he “worked diligently to advance this administration’s objective of building a better and prosperous Nigeria.”
Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, recalled Osinowo’s contributions to national development as a member of the ninth Senate.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the late senator was a fine politician, who contributed to the growth and development of Lagos State through his membership of the ruling APC.
In a condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker recalled his engagements with the late senator all in an attempt to better the lives of Lagosians.
He said, “Senator Bayo Osinowo’s death is a painful loss to Lagosians. Here was a man, who dedicated himself to the service of his people. He was always at the forefront of delivering the dividends of democracy to the electorate.”
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed sadness over the sudden death of Osinowo, who was a four-term member of the state House of Assembly.
Sanwo-Olu, in a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said Osinowo died at a time when the state and the nation was just benefiting from his wealth of political and administrative experience.
He said, “The death of Senator Bayo Osinowo is painful. He died at a time when we have just begun to consolidate on our successes and see a ray of hope in our fight against the COVID-19. We must not allow the death of Senator Osinowo to deter us from forging ahead in our quest to finding a lasting solution to the dreaded disease.
“I am saddened by the death of this fine gentleman; a loyal party man and committed democrat, with a deep understanding of the state’s social and political landscape.”
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, and the representative of Lagos West in the Senate, Solomon Adeola, in separate statements, said their late colleague was a passionate populist, who represented his constituency with “unflinching commitmet."
he national body of the APC said it received with shock the news of the death of Osinowo.
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