By Banji Ayoola
The House of Representatives, Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his predecessor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and the Peoples Democratic Party have expressed shock at the passage of the member representing Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Isaac Adedayo Omolafe.
The philanthropic and charismatic lawmaker, popularly called ‘Expensive’, passed on in the early hours of Sunday.
In its condolence message to the family, titled ‘Official Statement Of House Of Reps On Death Of Hon ‘Expensive’, House of Representatives Mourns Colleague, Rep. Adedayo Omolafe’, and signed by , its Spokesperson and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the House said: “It is with great sense of grief and sadness that the House mourns the passing of one of its members, Rep. Omolafe Adedayo.
Until his death, Rep. Adedayo Omolafe represented Akure South/Akure North Federal Constituency of Ondo State. He was a committed lawmaker who was dedicated to his duties, gentle and admired by all.
The news of the death of Rep. Adedayo Omolafe is a devastating one to all members of the House. He will be surely missed.
On behalf of the House, we pray that God comforts his constituents who have lost a diligent representative and his immediate family whom are left to bear this irreparable loss.”
On his own, Governor Akeredolu who has visited the bereaved family to express condolence. expressed shock at the sudden death of one whom he said was full of life and very philanthropic.
He was at Adedayo’s residence in Akure the state capital with the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.
Members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe and Hon. Abiola Makinde and a member of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunday Olajide, were equally at the residence.
The governor expressed his personal condolences and that of the entire state, describing the death of Adedayo as most unfortunate, rude and shocking.
He said although the late lawmaker’s demise was untimely, he noted that the time and hour of all mankind are really in the hands of God.
He implored the family to hold firm to the belief that the dead has gone to be with the Lord, adding that death is every man’s reality.
His words: “I express my personal condolences and I express the state condolences on this most unfortunate rude and shocking news of the demise of ‘Expensive’.
“I was in Abuja this morning and when I picked my phone and saw the news, I was worried. There is no much anybody can say. It is painful.
“When we say a death is untimely, the question is whether the time is for us to determine. So, using the word untimely death, we should be asked, is the time ours. Our time is in the hands of God. We will all die. I know it is not easy. The reality that he is gone forever is not easy.
“We can cry. You must be pained and cry. But the end of it all is that we must act as believers. Our faith is what is important, that he has transcended. That is what the Bible taught us. We shall meet someday.
“I want to implore you, this life is vanity. Our God is the Alpha and Omega. He knew he was going to die this day since he was born. Death will come when it will come.”
He urged the widow of the late lawmaker and his children to be there for one another, saying despite the pains and agony the death has brought, they must take heart and leave all to God.
“You and your children must be there for yourselves. Hold yourselves. Take heart because of the kids. Your husband was full of life, very philanthropic. Death is finality. We must accept that,” the Governor concluded.
Also, the immediate former governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko described Omolafe’s death as a huge loss to the Akure people and Ondo State in general.
Mimiko, in a statement by John Paul Akinduro, his Special Assistant on Media and Digital Communications, said the death of the federal lawmaker has left a big vacuum that may be difficult to fill.
“I am profoundly sad to learn of the passing to the great beyond of one of the most-loved and illustrious sons of Akure, Ifedayo Omolafe, also known as Expensive.
“Although, death is inevitable, Omolafe’s exit is a rude shock. His incredible ability to connect with the people, the high and the lowly alike, is one major value he will be leaving behind.
“Expensive had unquantifiable amount of street credibility and respectability uncommon among the elite.
He was known and respected by the commoners, who he gave time and energy to court and serve,” the former governor said.
Mimiko condoled his family, the people of Akure, his constituency and his political associates for the irreparable loss.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party, under whose platform Omolafe was elected into the House of Representatives and earlier as Chairman respectively of Akure South Council and Ondo State Housing Corporation, in a statement titled “‘Expensive’ Was A Constant Political Star – Ondo PDP”, said the death was shocking.
The statement signed by its state spokesman, Mr Kennedy Ikantu Peretei, said: “Everyone will die one day or another. But some departures are too much to bear. The sudden and tragic demise of Hon. Omolafe Adedayo, popularlly known as Expensive is difficult to accept, especially when he was not sick.”
It described Expensive as a constant political star since he was elected as Executive Chairman of Akure South Local Government Area in 2004 under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The statement said: “He was the State Co-ordinator of Sure-P program under former President Goodluck Jonathan. His dream to represent Akure South/ Akure North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives did not come to fruition since 2007. Now that he became elected in 2019, on the platform of PDP, the cold hand of death has extinguished this bright star at the middle of his tenure.
“The Peoples Democratic Party, Ondo State Chapter is pained. We cannot find the exact words to convey the extent of our grief. The exit of Expensive is a collosal and irreparable loss to our party in Akure Federal Constituency and the entire PDP in the State.
“Hon. Omolafe Adedayo is a household name in Akure. His footprints on the sands of time are indelible.
“Our party commiserates with his wife, children, and indeed the extended family. May God in His infinite mercies grant him bliss in the world beyond”
As Chairman, Akure South Local Government between 2003-2009, Omolafe brought infrastructural development and social services to the ancient city and Ondo state capital.
These included Neighborhood markets, drains, culverts, roads, maternity centres, Hostels for corps Members ( Corpers’ Lodge) along Ondo Road, Ultra Modern Motor park, Oke -Ijebu, Akure, and employment of hundreds of indigenes including physically challenged persons as permanent staffers of the council among others.
When recently a professional body of Engineers, under the auspices of The Nigerian Society of Engineers ( NSE) Akure Branch, honoured the deceased with an award “in recognition of his exceptional contribution and service to humanity,” he was described thus:”He brought dignity and respect to the exalted office as Mr Chairman of the most populous Local Government in Ondo state. His charisma, deeds, discipline and legacies are chronicled as unmatchable till date.
“As a State Coordinator of SURE-P, A Federal intervention programme to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal, he delivered the job meritoriously. He brought his abundant native intelligence to the fore in meeting the local challenges during the implementation of this material cum distributive policy.
“Ondo State Property Development Corporation is another point of his political calling in 2014. He was appointed as its Chairman. During his brief but eventful stay, Hon. Omolafe exposed the state estates to modernity and reclaimed the lands and properties of the state from unauthorized occupiers.
“It is noteworthy to state that his present capacity as a member representing Akure North/ Akure South in the green Chamber has drawn accolades from the low and mighty.
“His interventions have covered critical areas like Health, Education, infrastructures (both physical and stomach), Empowerment, entrepreneurship, skills acquisition for youths, business grants and Employment assistance.
“Hon. Omolafe is untiring in providing Leadership and Mentorship to the generations of upcoming politicians which also qualifies him as a recipient of the award and tallies him with the theme of the Memorial lecture to honour the Late James Raymond Olusoga.
The NSE is adequately applauded for appreciating the deserved. This award will definitely serve as a memorabilia for him to strive harder. And God, will continue to strengthen Hon. Omolafe Adedayo, the man whose heart is committed with burning desire to add indelible values to humanity.”
