Alhaji Lamidi Ona-Olapo Adesina,

Oyo State Government has declared a seven-day mourning in honour of former governor of the state, Alhaji Lam Adesina, who died on Sunday morning at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, at 73 years.

• L–R: Son of a former governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Lam Adesina, Dapo; Muslim clerics; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun; former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu; Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao; and Special Adviser to Oyo State governor, Political, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle, during the burial of Adesina, at his Felele residence, in Ibadan ... on Sunday.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said this in a statement.

The statement read in part, “The state government has declared a seven-day mourning for the departed elder statesman and former teacher of Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

“During the period, all official state functions will be suspended and the national flag flown at half mast.”

It quoted Ajimobi as describing Adesina as “a dedicated patriot, foremost defender of democracy and human rights, and political war-horse who had always stood on the side of truth.”

The former governor, whose health deteriorated, necessitating his admission first, to the University College Hospital, Ibadan and later to St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, was buried on Sunday at his Felele, Ibadan residence at 4pm according to Islamic rites.

Meanwhile, lawmakers, commissioners and other personalities from within and outside the state have continued to pay their respects to the deceased.

The National Chairman of ACN, Chief Bisi Akande, lamented that Adesina died when he was most needed.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, said, “I am devastated. He was a great leader. I will miss him. May his soul rest in peace. We just have to follow his legacy.”

Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Olufemi Lanlehin, said Adesina’s death was not only shocking but a colossal loss to humanity and the global democratic community in general.

Lanlehin, in a statement by his media assistant, Olawale Sadare, regretted that the ex-governor died at a time nobody expected.

Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Chief Sharafadeen Alli, described the former governor as a fulfilled politician.

Among dignitaries who attended the burial were Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

Others were a Director of Punch Nigeria Limited, Dr. Lekan Are, Senator Ayoade Adeseun, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Yekinni Adeojo, the Are Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Arisekola Alao and Hazeem Gbolarunmi.