Honourable Babatunde Oduyoye, a former Minority Whip of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the House of Representatives has described the late former National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, as a great leader whose passion for the development of Yorubaland and Nigeria could not be quantified.
Oduyoye, who is the Special Adviser on Strategy and Political Matters to the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, stated this in a tribute to the deceased AD national leader.
According to Oduyoye, who until his appointment was the South-West Leader of the AD, working with Pa Akinfenwa provided an unforgettable experience.
He stated that the late Senator was always ready to mentor the younger generation and bequeath a legacy of political emancipation to the South-West.
Oduyoye said: “Akinfenwa’s death at a time Nigeria is still in the woods regarding internal democracy in political parties, federalism and constitutionalism, is a big loss.”
He added that the Yoruba nation and Nigeria would miss his wealth of political experience and leadership.
“Pa Akinfenwa’s death is a great to politicians in the South-West and I believe, in Nigeria, because he was a repository of knowledge as far as politics was concerned, half of which I do not think he has imparted in the younger generation as he would have loved to do.
“Working with Senator Akinfenwa to rebuild the AD after its experience in the hands of political saboteurs provided one of the most unforgettable experiences for me.
“Baba always stood for what he felt was right; he never buckled or faltered in the struggle for the institutionalisation of democracy in the AD and he never missed an opportunity to express his passion for the development of the South-West and Nigeria. All these reflected in how he fought for close to 20 years to gift Nigeria a political platform that would be truly democratic and observe internal democracy to the letters,” Oduyoye said.
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