- Assembly declares 7 days mourning
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has expressed deep sorrow on the passing of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, who died on Wednesday, in Ado-Ekiti, aged 66 years.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, the governor said Afuye’s death was shocking, sad and unfortunate.
On its own, the State House of Assembly has declared a seven-day mourning for the deceased.
The House Committee on Media’s chairman, Mrs. Yemisi Ayokunle, announced in Ado Ekiti that the flag at the Assembly complex would be flown at half-mast throughout the time.
Mrs. Ayokunle, who described the late Speaker as an embodiment of courage, excellence, and a highly committed man to public service, maintained that Mr. Afuye will be greatly missed.
According to the statement, the Speaker died on Wednesday evening during a brief illness at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, at the age of 66.
Governor Oyebanji described Afuye’s death as unbelievable because the deceased was on the his entourage during an inspection tour of some projects in Ado- Ekiti on Tuesday and did not show any sign of illness.
The Governor said he was shocked when he got a call early Wednesday morning that the late Speaker was rushed to the hospital.
He said he was convinced that Afuye would leave the hospital hale and hearty in view of the medical attention he was receiving when he paid him a visit at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Wednesday afternoon.
“I was speechless when the news of Hon Afuye’s death came later in the evening.”
The Governor described Afuye as a loyal friend and party man, a 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.
Oyebanji who prayed the Lord to console the family of the deceased and the entire Ekiti people on the irreparable loss, has declared a day of mourning for the departed statesman and directed that state functions including the swearing-in of the newly appointed Secretary to the State Government and the Attorney General, as well as a thanksgiving service earlier slated for this week be postponed indefinitely in honour of the late Speaker.
“Ekiti lost an illustrious son, a perfect gentleman and a champion of democracy and rule of law. My heart bleeds over the loss of this great leader who was a great friend and brother indeed.
“On behalf of myself, my wife, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with the Afuye family and the people of Ikere Ekiti. May the good Lord give everyone of us the fortitude to bear this loss”, Oyebanji said.
Afuye, a lawyer, was born on July 11, 1956.
Between 2007 and 2011, he served as a member of the state’s third assembly representing Ikere constituency I. He served in the administration of the immediate former Governor Kayode Fayemi as the state’s commissioner for Information between 2011 and 2014 and later that of Integration and Intergovernmental Affairs.
He later won reelection in the sixth assembly; and on June 6, 2019, he assumed his position as speaker of the house.
He passed away on Wednesday evening, October 19, at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
He had reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest earlier in the day and was being treated there for his condition when he passed away.
