The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin has mourned the death of Chief Solomon Ogunjinmi and Chief Olayiwola Gabriel Adetoyese a.k.a Layi Baale, two prominent chieftains of the People’s Democratic Party in Ibarapa North and Ibarapa East Local Government areas, respectively.
The two Ibarapa political leaders died at the space of 24 hours.
Chief Ogunjinmi, a former Executive Chairman of Ibarapa North Local Government, a former Senatorial District chairman of the PDP and until his death, a member, Oyo State Civil Service Commission died on Tuesday, 30th January, 2024 while the death of Chief Adetoyese, a former Oyo South PDP Senatorial Chairman, a former Special Adviser on Political Matters to late Governor Adebayo Alao Akala and the immediate past member of Oyo State Rural Water and Sanitation Agency, occured on Wednesday, 31st January, 2024.
The Speaker in a condolence message said he was deeply and terribly saddened by the deaths of the two powerful political leaders.
“It was with great sadness that I received the death of Chief Solomon Ogunjinmi and Chief Layi Baale, PDP leaders in Ibarapaland. These two deaths within 24hrs are distressing, unimaginable and painful to me and to our great party in Ibarapaland. God has again shocked us to a state of numbness. When political father figures die, the gaps are felt by people who look up to them. Sad to hear that my great leaders have gone to meet with their creator. ”
Mr Ogundoyin said the passing away of Chief Layi Baale was a great and personal loss to him and his political career.
“Chief Olayiwola Gabriel Adetoyese was an essential and integral part of my political journey. He was my guidance, political supporter, pillar and mentor. I held him in high regards for his selfless efforts for our party, and I will continue to cherish and treasure the memories we shared together. Chief Layi Baale as he was fondly called by the everyone was loved by both old and young because of his simple and free nature. He was a great leader and a master strategist whose wealth of political experience was of great benefit to the party.
“I learned so much from the two leaders. They showed us the way and gave us pristine political tutelage. We have lost political role models, great team leaders and committed party chieftains and their deaths have left vacuums too wide to be filled,” Oyo Speaker said.
He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed to God to bless the loved ones they left behind.
