16th May, 2020
Former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Sharafadeen Alli, and former Commissioner for Agriculture, Bimbo Kolade, have described the death of Mr Kehinde Ayoola as a pill too bitter to swallow.
In separate condolence messages made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the duo expressed their sadness over the death of the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources.
PM News had reported that Ayoola died on May 14, after a brief illness while serving as the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources.
Alli said the news of the demise of Ayoola came as a rude shock and a pill too bitter to swallow for him, adding that it left a sour taste in his mouth.
“Reason is: Kehinde whom I normally called Kenny was a friend and co-traveler in the journey of politics for the sake of the people and egalitarianism of our dear State,” he said.
Alli said that the late Ayoola had after leaving the Oyo State House of Assembly in 2003 built himself up politically and academically.
“He was so well read resulting in his ability to contribute meaningfully to discussion on almost any topical matter and state of the nation affairs as a whole.
“A cerebral and widely read personality, Kenny was so passionate about Oyo, his home town. He was also an exemplary family man and a gentleman to the core.
“He had the ability to see both sides of any issue hence his ability to build bridges in time of conflict.
“It is thus so painful now that Kenny had an opportunity, in a government he helped put in place, to put to use all the knowledge and experience gathered over the years, but death took him away,” he said.
According to him, “we will miss Ayoola so dearly, Oyo state has lost a rare gem, My brother, Gov. Seyi Makinde has lost one of his best eleven”.
Alli prayed that Allah grant them including his family fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Also, Kolade, former commissioner for agriculture, and local government and chieftaincy matters in the last administration, expressed sadness, describing the deceased as an epitome of humility.
“The news of the sudden death of Rt. Hon. Kehinde Ayoola came as a rude shock but we judge God faithful in all things, we can’t query God.
“He will be remembered for his humility, from those campus politics things at OAU, Ile Ife,” he said.
Kolade recalling his contributions and suggestions to him when he was in the ministry of agriculture, said “I commiserate with his immediate and extended family.
”I also commiserate with our Baba Kabiesi Alaafin Oyo, entire Oyo sons, daughters, government and the people of Oyo state, praying that God would comfort them all.
”Above all we thank God that you know Christ. Sleep on till we meet.”