The Southern Senators Forum has condoled with the governor of Ekiti state, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, over the death of the speaker of the Ekiti state House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye.
In a statement signed on behalf of the 51 Southern senators in Abuja Friday, the Forum’s chair, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), described Afuye as “one leader that contributed immeasurably to Ekiti’s development through effective lawmaking and partnership with the executive.”
“Afuye’s death is shocking and excruciating, and has left a big vacuum that will be herculean to fill in Ekiti and within the progressive fold. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye was one leader that had etched his name in gold in the building of Nigeria’s democratic institution.
“He was patriotic and that necessitated why he put his life on the line fighting the military junta as a member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
“Since the advent of democracy in 1999, the late speaker had also contributed richly to entrench good governance, and worked hard to fast track deployment of the instrument of democracy to usher in development, and make lives more rewarding for the citizens. This was a painful and regrettable death,” the statement read in part.
The caucus sympathised with the Ekiti state government, Afuye’s family and political associates “on the loss of the priceless leader, who gave his physical and intellectual resources to develop the state.”
It implored the state government to ensure he was immortalised in recognition of his great sacrifice and immense roles he played in the political development of the state before his demise.
