The government of the State of Osun has announced plans to run an inquest on the death of late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, whose sudden death has raised diverse reactions from different quarters.
In a statement provided by the State, “In the light of the controversy, the State Government of Osun, using the instrumentality of the law, is setting up an inquest to unravel the circumstances of this unfortunate and sad incident, in order to put the record straight on his death.”
The Aregbesola administration initially planned to honour the late senator by giving him a befitting and dignifying state burial, but ” the enemies of the state, through brigandage, violence and evil machinations, created an atmosphere of fear and terror in the minds of our citizenry and friends throughout the federation”.
Given the tense atmosphere, a state burial did not hold, and “The best we could do in the circumstance was to declare three days of mourning throughout the state and fly national, state and our party’s flags at half-mast in his honour”, it said.
Adeleke’s burial according to Islamic rites was marred by violence when some young people harassed some of the deceased’s friends and political associates, claiming that they masterminded his death.
It, however, emerged that the late senator may have consumed an overdose of painkillers.
According to the government, the unfortunate outbursts at Senator Adeleke’s death desecrated his values as a man of peace and a debonair gentleman to the core.
Adeleke, who until his death was the senator representing Osun West at the national level, was the first democratically elected Governor of Osun.
The State of Osun continues to mourn his untimely death and commiserates with his family, the good people of Ede, associates, friends and constituents.
