Oyo Politicians Honour Late Alao Akala

Political gladiators from major political parties in Oyo State on Monday shunned their party affiliations to bid a former governor of the state, Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala farewell.

Akala, was the governor of the state between 2007 and 2011, before he died in January this year.

Alao-Akala, who hailed from Ogbomoso, Oyo State was elected as governor of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007.

He later recontested as governor on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) in 2015.

In a bid to return to Agodi government house, he later contested as governor on the platform of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in 2019.

He later moved to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, where he remained till he died.

Prominent political gladiators from major political parties in the state at an event on Monday, jettisoned their party politics to celebrate the former police officer.

The event tagged “A day of tributes for Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala”, was organised by “The Oyo State Political Class,” which consists of all major politicians in the state.

Those who attended the event, which took place in Ibadan, the state capital, included politicians from the APC, PDP and LP; Alao-Akala’s family, friends and associates, among others.

Some of the prominent politicians, who attended the event as part of the activities for the final burial of the former governor included senator representing Oyo South, Dr. Kola Balogun; Chief Niyi Akintola(SAN), Mrs. Bose Adedibu, Barrister Kunle Ishola and APC acclaimed Chairman, Mr. Issac Omodewu.

Others are Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, Professor Tunji Olaopa, Professor Soji Adejumo, Barrister Kunle Ishola, Hon. Segun Dokun Odebunmi, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi and Alhaji Kehinde Olosebikan among others.

The Chairman of the planning committee, Dr. Wale Ohu, in his welcome address noted that Alao-Akala meant different things to different people.

“I welcome you to this event to celebrate the life of Chief Alao-Akala. His death was a rude shock to the political class in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

“He was a man with a large heart. Today, the political class gathered together devoid of party affiliations to celebrate the man that meant different things to different people,” he disclosed.

-Kunle Bakare