Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has expressed shock over the death of the State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye.
Oladunjoye reportedly died on Friday in the United Kingdom after battling with an undisclosed ailment.
Governor Abiodun, however, in a statement on Saturday, described the demise of the former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, as a terrible loss.
Abiodun, who said he received the news of the demise of the erudite spokesman and Chief Consultant to the Ogun State Government with disbelief and shock, expressed deep sorrow that the dynamic, loyal, and committed politician died in the prime of his youth.
He described the deceased as a forthright, down-to-earth, consummate politician who always stood gallantly and unwaveringly by any cause he believed in, adding that he was a stabilizing factor both in Ogun APC and in government circles.
He said: “Receiving the news of the departure of our gallant, highly resourceful, uncommonly cerebral, and hardworking party spokesman and consultant, Tunde Oladunjoye, was devastating to me.
“This is tragic news that is, frankly, difficult to fathom; one death too many, but still we acknowledge the sovereignty of Almighty God who has chosen to call him home at this time.
“As a party man and aide, Oladunjoye never believed in half measures: he went out of his way to defend the programs, policies, philosophy, and the image of the Ogun State Government under our leadership. He was an effective and highly accomplished spokesman whose brilliance was never in doubt.
“He was a voice of courage and easily the best spokesman Ogun APC has ever produced. His contributions to the modest successes this administration has recorded in various sectors cannot be overemphasized as I commiserate with the family and Ogun APC.
“His doggedness, tenacity, and loyalty to the cause he believed in shone through at all times, and there is no doubt that he contributed a lot to making Ogun APC a big brand. He was frank, down-to-earth, forthright, and focused.
“Tunde Oladunjoye was a good man. He will be sorely missed.
“I extend my deepest condolences to his nuclear family, the Ogun APC family, and to his friends.
On his part, the Ogun State Chairman of the APC, Yemi Sanusi, said Oladunjoye’s death was a great loss to the Ogun APC, his family and the state.
“I can recall that our paths crossed in 2018 when our party leadership appointed him, Mr Ayo Olubori and my humble self as Caretaker Committee for Ogun APC. Ever since then, I have known Tunde to be an irredentist, pragmatic and loyal party man who is ready to stretch himself beyond the convenient threshold to achieve the party’s goal.
“Tunde Oladunjoye as the image maker of our party, would not tolerate any stain on the image of the party and would promptly deploy his vibrant pen to set the records straight.
“He fought for the party and any course he so much believed in but unfortunately, he couldn’t defeat death. No doubt he fought death to the end. His death is a great loss to APC, his family and Ogun State at large.
“I pray that Almighty Allah grants him Aljanah Fridaus, blesses and prospers the family that he left behind and also fortifies our party leadership and followers from untimely death”, Sanusi stated in a statement he personally signed.