By Lekan Adejuwon
The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has described the late politician and elderstatesman, Chief George Akosile, as a dependable leader, who promoted the virtues of honesty, spartan lifestyle and integrity during his lifetime.
Mrs Afuye said the late ex-Permanent Secretary and prominent politician, was a leader and mentor people could trust and pattern their life after as a disciplined and contended personality .
The Deputy Governor, said this on Monday, during a condolence visit to the residence of the departed Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Igbara Odo Ekiti, Ekiti Southwest Local Government Area of Ekiti State..
Chief Akosile, former Chairman of the defunct Alliance for Democracy and Retired Permanent Secretary in the Old Ondo State,died on Friday, at the ripe age of 88.
Mrs Afuye, who was received by the deceased’s eldest son , Olukayode, said in a statement by her Media Aide, Victor Ogunje, that Ekiti people will fondly remember the arduous and heroic roles played by Chief Akosile in the creation of Ekiti state in 1996.
She saluted Chief Akosile’s finesse, strong leadership reflex and knack to operate under a tensed atmosphere and succeed, which she said contributed principally to his superlative accomplishments as a Permanent Secretary and AD Chairman.
In the political turf, Mrs Afuye, praised the deceased for sacrificing all to ensure that the progressive party made Ekiti a fortress in the Southwest, with the resounding victory recorded by former Governor Niyi Adebayo in 1999, when Chief Akosile was the State AD Chairman.
The Deputy Governor added that history and posterity would continue to be kind to Chief Akosile over how he stood firmly with the then Action Congress of Nigeria during its winding journey to victory in 2010.
Mrs Afuye posited that the deceased exemplified Ekiti’s virtues of industry, brilliancy, honesty and integrity, which he manifested in every position he was entrusted with as a community man, civil servant and political leader in the Old Ondo and Ekiti States.
She said: “The death of our Baba , Chief George Akosile, was a great loss to all of us in Ekiti. He was a patriotic leader . He was not only committed to the creation of Ekiti State, he worked relentlessly for its economic development and prosperity for its people.
“He was an reliable elderstatesman, a stabiliser, peace maker and a leader with good emotion to handle any matter, no matter how sensitive and difficult.
“It was his worth that prompted Governor Biodun Oyebanji to offer him appointment at the age of 88, which he cheerfully accepted. This was very rare in Nigeria’s history.
“I condole with his family, Igbara-Odo people, the progressive political scions in Ekiti and southwest, as well as the entire people of Ekiti State on the demise of this respectable leader. May his soul find rest in the bosom of our Lord”.
In his response, the deceased’s eldest son, Mr. Olukayode Akosile, appreciated the Deputy Governor’s gesture and pledged that the family will protect the good virtues his father exhibited while alive.
