Adebayo Adenrele
Governor Biodun Oyebanji has called on the friends, associates and family members of late Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, to support his wife and children, as a means of showing their love and respect for him.
Oyebanji stated this on Thursday during a special valedictory plenary session, which was held in honour of the late Speaker at the plenary at the State House of Assembly Complex, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Oyebanji described Afuye as a leader of a formidable team that contributed immensely to the development of Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general.
He noted that the late speaker is a reliable friend and party man, adding that he was 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 at large.
He added that he has epitomised the finest of Ekiti character with his amiable disposition to issues, which had made him to lead a matured, highly productive and rancour-free Assembly.
The Governor implored the wife and children to take solace in the fact that their father chose to serve humanity and the state, as they have successfully etched his name in gold.
“Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye was my very good brother and his death is so painful. I saw him on the morning of his demise. I went to the hospital to see him and I spoke with him and I was confident he would improve because he had the best of medical attention. So, I had no fear that he would pull through but once its God’s time, there is nothing we can do. As we mourn, we should also cast our minds on the fulfilled life that he lived.
“If we truly love the late Speaker, this is the time to show it by supporting the wife and children he left behind. I urge all friends, family and associates to support the family.
“My relationship with the Rt. Hon. Speaker has been long and cordial since the days of Afenifere and Alliance for Democracy. He had always been a progressive politician of an uncommon commitment and belonged among the most decent of men and principled politicians.” Oyebanji said.
On his part, the Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sulaiman Abubakar, described the late Afuye as a great parliamentarian with high spirit of patriotism and great humility filled with life and energy to achieve greatness in life.
Abubakar, who spoke on behalf of the Nigerian Conference of Speakers, noted several contribution of late Rt. Hon. Funminiyi Afuye to the conference and Nigeria with particular reference to a committee he chaired which looked at the issue of ecological problems faced by the states and was happy that the committee came up with tangible proposal.
In their respective goodwill messages, Special Adviser on Political matters to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Speakers of Assemblies, former and present members of the Ekiti Assembly, described the late Afuye as a passionate, consistent and disciplined democrat who contributed his quota to the development of the state and Nigeria.
Among those who attended the plenary were the Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, members of the state executive council, members of National and State Assemblies, representatives of Conference of Speakers represented by Speakers of Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, Bauchi as well as members of the first to fifth assemblies of Ekiti state.
NEWSTODAYNG recalled that Afuye died on Wednesday, October 19, 2022 at the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti after suffering Cardiac arrest and would be laid to rest tomorrow, Friday,11th November, at his country home, Ikere Ekiti.