The Jagun Oodua, Akogun Tola Adeniyi, has mourned the death of two giants of the ancient town of Ibadan: former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide; and veteran journalist, Areoye Oyebola, who died within a space of two months.
Adeniyi said this in a statement he sent to The Eagle Online on Wednesday.
In the statement, titled: “Ibadan lost two giants in two months,” he said: “My condolences go to the Royal Father of Ibadan Kingdom, the Governor of Oyo State, Ibadan citizens in general and of course the Nigerian space for the loss of two Titans of Ibadan origin who journeyed forth within a space of two months. Legal luminary Osuolale Akinjide 88, was preceded in the journey in the Continuum by Journalism giant Areoye Oyebola 84. Both Akinjide and Oyebola ran for the governorship of old Oyo state in 1979. While Oyebola ran on the ticket of APP, Akinjide bore the flag of the NPN and both lost to Bola Ige’s UPN.
“Akinjide made his mark in politics, becoming Federal Minister of Education at age 27, but made a greater mark in Law which was his primary calling.
“Soft spoken Oyebola made an impressive mark in journalism as father of Investigative Journalism but made a greater impact in teaching, economics and authorship his primary love.
“These two losses must be a great pain to the pace setter state of Oyo and to Nigeria at large. We mourn with the families of these great men and pray that the Almighty God accepts their souls.
“It is hoped that the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic will leave the living so that the departed illustrious sons of the warrior- city of Ibadan are given befitting burial.”