The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has joined the government and people of Ekiti State to mourn the demise of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr Funminiyi Afuye.
Afuye, who represented Ikere Constituency 1 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, died at the age of 66 on Wednesday at an undisclosed hospital, after a brief illness.
Buhari, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Thursday, said the late Speaker distinguished himself as a key soldier for democracy and was widely admired as a humble grassroots political leader who relentlessly championed the interests of his people.
Also, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described Afuye’s death as sad and unfortunate.
Tinubu, in a statement from his Media Office signed by Mr Tunde Rahman, said the late Afuye was an astute political leader who served not only his state with honour, dignity and commitment to good governance but also showed uncommon fidelity to progressive politics and ideals.
“I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to his wife, children, the Government and people of Ekiti State, and his colleagues at the State House of Assembly. We should all take solace in the fact that Funminiyi Afuye played his role well and remained faithful till the end to the ideals of good governance and service to our people,” he said.
Similarly, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described the deceased as a committed public officer.
He said, “On behalf of the people and government of Lagos State, I sympathise with Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, and the entire people of the state on the demise of the Speaker.”
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said Afuye’s death was shocking, sad and unfortunate.
The governor said, “Afuye was a loyal friend and party man, patriotic Ekiti leader and a tireless advocate of good governance, who in the last 30 years had committed his time, energy and resources to the development of the state and the country.
“Ekiti lost an illustrious son, a perfect gentleman and a champion of democracy and rule of law.”
Also, a former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni said, “the late Afuye “belonged to the group of Omoluabi Ekiti, a very humble and an astute politician who has served Ekiti meritoriously In various political positions. He has left behind a good legacy.”
