Gov Aiyedatiwa Announces 3 Days Mourning For Late SSG

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state has declared a three-day mourning and prayers in honour of the State Secretary to Government SSG, Hon Tayo Oluwatuyi.

Aiyedatiwa, who led members of the State Executive Council on a condolence visit to the wife of the late Oluwatuyi and members of his family, in Akure, promised support.

The governor declared the three-day mourning and prayers – from Sunday, 5th to Tuesday, 7th January, in honour of the late SSG.

He noted that the late SSG ” lived a fulfilled life and made positive impacts on many people

The SSG died on Saturday while receiving treatment in the hospital after a car accident.

Aiyedatiwa said late Oluwatuyi was a recurring decimal in the politics and governance of Ondo State, adding that the history of the state will not be complete without a mention of his impacts.

He extolled the virtues of Oluwatuyi, describing him as a complete gentleman who conducted his public and private life with decorum and humility.

The Governor, who prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased, promised the support of the government for the family at this difficult time.

In the condolence register, the Governor wrote: “Hon Tayo Oluwatuyi, you came, you lived, you performed your God-given tasks and impacted lives.

“You have decided to leave us at a time we never expected but God said it is time to come home. May you have rest at the bossom of your creator, God. Amen.”

Meanwhile, Rt Hon ictor Olabimtan, the Chairman of Ondo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, has described the death of Oluwatuyi, as a great loss not only to his family, Akure kingdom, Ondo State, but also to humanity in general.

Olabimtan in a statement, described Oluwatuyi as a patriotic statesman who wrote his name in gold through grassroots politics.

He lamented that his demise has created a vacuum too difficult to fill.

Olabimtan also described the late Oluwatuyi as a thoroughbred administrator who believed that whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

The statement reads, “Oluwatuyi was different from your everyday politician. In his lifetime, he bore no grudge and held no enmity towards anyone irrespective of party affiliation.

“He was an advocate of live and let live. He was one of the very few politicians who would not pull anyone down to rise. He was plain and open like a book.

“I have lost not just a friend, but also a patriotic statesman. May God grant his family, Akure kingdom, Ondo State and the entire human race the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Also, a chieftain and former gubernatorial aspirant of APC Chief Olusola Oke, SAN has described the passage of the Ondo SSG as a great loss to Ondo state.

Oke, in a press statement signed by him, described Oluwatuyi as a gentleman and a great asset to Ondo state and its politics. He described the encounter he had with the late SSG as memorable.

“He was a gentleman with an uncommon attitude in politics. I had a brief but productive encounter with him while in office as the Ondo SSG. He was passionate, attentive and resourceful”, Oke said

” On behalf of myself and my family, I sincerely condole with the immediate family of Hon. Temitayo Oluwatuyi, the Ondo State Governor and government, the Deji of Akure, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Aladetoyinbo, and the teaming supporters of Late Oluwatuyi, on the painful exit of this enigma, who uncommonly, impacted public service and humanity with his likeable personality, charismatic men and adorable humanitarian attributes.

“He was a gentleman with an uncommon attitude in politics. I had a brief but productive encounter with him while in office as the Ondo SSG. He was passionate, attentive and resourceful.

“It is saying the obvious that the sudden departure of this political colossus leaves a bad taste in our mouths, arrows in our hearts, and aches in our scared memories.

“Our prayer is that the all-knowing unquestionable Creator and Giver of life, to whom this great moulder has returned, will avail the immediate family members and numerous associates the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

The Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC), has equally expressed shock at the death of Oluwatuyi.

According to the State Director of Information, Mr. Kayode Fasua, the passage of Oluwatuyi, fondly known as Tukana, as a great loss to the entire state, bearing the fact that he was a valuable technocrat and political exemplar.

It demurred that the late Tukana, who devoted his life and time to the service of his society and the uplift of the less-privileged, was much loved to be lost.

“We grieve for a great leader and an inspirer of no mean repute in the administration of His Excellency, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa; one who stood out as a valuable technocrat and political exemplar.

“As Secretary to the State Government since Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa assumed office, he had proved his mettle as a stickler for excellence and a political office holder who devoted his life and time to his society and the uplift of the less-privileged.

“In the art of governance in the state and all noble activities leading to the sweeping victory of Mr Governor and invariably that of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tukana’s outstanding contributions cannot be forgotten,” the LACO-FSIC lauded.

The body condoled with Governor Aiyedatiwa, his cabinet, the entire state’s administration, the ruling APC, the Akure community from whom he hailed, and the entire people of Ondo State, for the irreparable loss.

The campaign organisation, which took the front burner in the build-up to the November 16, 2024 governorship election, also expressed the heartfelt condolences of its Convener, Baba Aladura (Dr) Oladipupo Okeyomi, aka Carry Go; Co-Convener, Prince Biyi Poroye, and Director-General, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye who is the state’s Commissioner for Youths and Sports, on Tukana’s passage.

It particularly urged the immediate and extended families of the late former SSG to be placated upon reflection on the inevitability of death for all mortals, and the fact that he lived an emulatable life and remains hallowed in the thoughts of virtually all who encountered him.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, has expressed sympathy with the government and family of the late SSG.

A statement by the Director of Publicity, Leye Igbagbo said the state chapter of the party is utterly devastated by the news of the sudden demise of the Secretary to the State Government.

Igbagbo said, “The late SSG was a very simple, humble, unassuming, accommodating, and truly progressive personality who never used his office to oppress any person in life. Our party finds the tragic incident very unfortunate but could not query God as to why such an amiable personality would go at this crucial time.

‘As a party, we convey our heartfelt condolences to the government and the people of Ondo State over this irreplaceable loss. Our hearts go out to the immediate family of the departed leader, his political associates, and the entire members of the Akure community, and we pray to God to make available the required strength to overcome this trying moment.”

Also, the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Agboola Ajayi, described the passing of the SSG as “most painful, unexpected and untimely.”

Ajayi, in his statement, said, ” The news of the passing of the rugged and grassroots politician came to me some moments ago, as a very rude shock.

With deep sadness, I learned of the demise of a community-oriented, humble, dogged, and grassroots politician whose achievement as a man of the people can not be overemphasized.

“The Late SSG was a mobilizer who did not waiver in the face of adversity. He was firm and solid in his beliefs and convictions, and it was almost impossible to sway him from them. He was very passionate about the downtrodden and vulnerable”