By Raphael Ekpang
Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Ali (APC) representing Oyo South in the 10th Senate has paid tribute to the late Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun who died on Friday , March 15, 2024.
Senator Ali, in a chat with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja said, the late Olubadan was a detribalised Nigeria who defended the interest of Nigerians while he was in the Senate.
Oba Lekan Balogun died on Friday at the University College Hospital ( UCH) Ibadan at age 81 after a brief illness, two years after ascending the throne on March 11, 2022.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ali has presented a motion to the floor of the Senate where the red chamber in line with the prayers held a minute silence in honour of their departed former colleague, Oba Lekan Balogun.
In his presentation, Abiodun Senator Ali told the Senate that the late Olubadan was a leader per excellence and , community developer and service – driven politician which culminated into his election as Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2003 .
“The late Olubadan was a man of peace and custodian of culture and values of the Yoruba people . “, he said .
However, the two other Senators from Oyo State , Yinus Akintunde, Central and Abdulfatai Buhari, North , also contributed to the debate on the motion as they informed their colleagues on how the late Monarch , impacted positively on the lives of those who came across him while alive.
Senator Buhari said the book written by the late monarch , titled : ” Arrogance of Power “, given to him in 2003 when he won election into the House of Representatives, helped him a lot, not to get disconnected from people who elected him into National Assembly over the years.
In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio urged Senator Abdulfatai Buhari to make available copies of ” Arrogance of Power”, authored by the deceased, to all Senators in guiding them aright at all times
