The legislative arm of government in Oyo State on Thursday honoured the late Speaker and Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola with a special Valedictory Legislative Sitting.
Hon. Ayoola, who was the Chairman, Editorial Board of Parrot Xtra Magazine was a member of the fourth state House of Assembly in Oyo State.
The Special Valedictory Service was observed in line with established social distancing guidelines with the use of nose masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
The immediate past Speaker of the House, Hon. Olagunju Joshua Ojo, Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Ladi Abimbola, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka, wife, children and some family members were in attendance to bid farewell to the late commissioner.
Also present were some members of the executive council of the state, friends and colleagues of the deceased in the fourth assembly.
In his tribute, Speaker of the House, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin who narrated his experience when he lost his father many years ago, appealed to the wife and children of the deceased to have trust in God and believe in themselves despite the loss of their father and bread winner.
The Speaker, while urging the immediate family of the deceased to be committed to making it in life, affirmed the commitment of the 9th assembly to give necessary assistance to the children in their endeavours.
Also in his tribute, the Minority Leader, Hon. Asimiyu Alarape, who is a colleague of the deceased in the Fourth assembly, described Hon. Ayoola as a man of many parts.
He described the impeachment saga of the former Speaker as a move orchestrated by political interest.
Hon Olatunji Kehinde Ayoola JP, was the first Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly in the 4th assembly in 1999 during late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina era as governor.
Until his death, Hon. Ayoola was the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources.
He was Director-General for the Omi-Tuntun Campaign Organization in 2015 when Governor Seyi Makinde was the governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Deputy Director-General at the last general election for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Rt. Hon. Kehinde Ayoola was survived by a wife, Prof. Olukemi Titilola and two boys, Folarin and Beeloluwawi. He died on May 14th, 2020 after a brief illness.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
