Akinjide: Nigeria has lost a doyen— Lanlehin
Senator Olufemi Lanlehin (SOLAN), has expressed shock and sadness, at the news of the death of Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide SAN.
Akinjide, former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice in the Shehu Shagari administration, and Minister for Education in the Tafawa Balewa government died in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital in the early hours of Tuesday after a brief illness aged 88.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his media bureau, the governorship hopeful described the deceased as a doyen of the legal profession, democrat and nationalist, whose contributions from the first republic till he breathed his last, can neither be overemphasized, nor undervalued.
Lanlehin noted that indeed the nation had lost “one of its brightest stars, whose shoes would be too large to fill”. He then prayed God to grant the departed an eternal rest.
Condoling the Akinjide’s family, Senator Lanlehin urged them to take solace in the fact that their father, grandfather, great-grandfather and patriach, lived a life worthy of emulation and left indelible footprints in the sands of time.
“Chief Akinjide, represented one of the best of everything Nigeria ever had, and in fact, Ibadan, Oyo State, and Nigeria, will miss him dearly,” the former Oyo South Senator added.
The former governorship candidate equally commiserated with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji Aje Ogungunniso I, on the demise of this illustrious Ibadan indigene, as well as other associates of the departed maverick politician, on this very painful, but inevitable loss, averring that since death the grim reaper, is man’s inevitable end to every earthly sojourn, no life would be spared its pangs, no matter how eventful.
He consoled them to, rather than being mournful, they should celebrate the impactful life of Chief Akinjide.