Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has expressed deep sadness over the death of former Oyo State Governor, Chief Adebayo Alao- Akala, describing it as a huge loss to Ogbomosho, Oyo State, and Nigeria.
According to a statement sent by the Minister who is reportedly on his way back from the African Nations Cup in Cameroon, he said it was really difficult to accept the reality of the news of someone as close to him as Alao Akala was.
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” I received the news of the death of my elder brother, astute political statesman and Former Governor of Oyo State, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao- Akala with a huge sense of loss, shock, and pain. His death not only came suddenly but was quite devastating. He was like a big brother to me, so his death has robbed me of a dear one who was so passionate about the development of Ogbomosho, Oyo State, and Nigeria at large.”
Sunday Dare further stated ” His death is a huge loss not only to the family but especially Ogbomosho, a place he loved and lived for. His death has created a huge vacuum in our political space. Coming at a time when his political sagacity and clout were most needed makes it such a monumental loss.
May God console his family, his political associates, and the people of Oyo State on the demise of this great personality.
The Yoruba have a saying, “okú ń ṣọ̀fọ̀ òkú”, meaning “the dead are mourning the dead”. Nine days ago, Alao-Akala and other prominent politicians were at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, to attend the burial of Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadanland. Less than a month earlier, he had attended the burial of Jimoh Oyewunmi, Soun of Ogbomosho land — and today, he is no more. Indeed, death is a patternless mystery.
Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala was born on June 3, 1950, in Ogbomoso, Oyo state. He had his elementary education in Osupa Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso and proceeded to the Kamina Barracks Middle School, 5th Battalion of Infantry in Tamale, Ghana. He bagged a diploma in business administration in 1998; doctor of civil law (DCL) honoris causa, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso (2006); doctor of science in political science from Lead City University, Ibadan (2008).
