Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has described the former military governor of Ondo State, Major General Ekundayo Opaleye, as a humble and intelligent officer who served his country and humanity diligently while alive.
Governor Abiodun, who made the assertion when he paid a condolence visit to the family at their Ibara GRA resident in Abeokuta, said Ogun State has lost one of its illustrious sons who dedicated his life to nation building and served as a great mentor to the young ones.
“He served with absolute integrity. General lived a life of impact, a life of service, dedication, and contribution.
“Opaleye was always ready to share his experiences in life and in leadership. He always answers our call whenever we invite him for any event, and so, I was shocked when I heard of his death,” he said.
Governor Abiodun observed that the passage of the top military officer who died at the age of 77, is a reminder that life is transient hence the need for those still alive to be impactful so as to be remembered for good after their demise.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the departed and for God to give those he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, the governor said the state government would set up a committee that would liaise with the family to give the late military officer a befitting burial.
Meanwhile, Governor Abiodun also described the late former minister of Finance, Onaolapo Soleye, as a trailblazer, who also contributed immensely to nation-building.
Abiodun stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at Ibara GRA, Abeokuta. He said Soleye, as a minister of finance, during the military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari, blaze the trail by displaying intellectual capacity that was never witnessed in the ministry. As a worthy man remembered by his legacies, Governor Abiodun said the late former minister lived an accomplished life and left a foot print in the sand of time, saying he was an industrious and prominent son who made the Ogun State proud in all his public endeavours.
“He came, saw and conquered. He lived an impactful life with all sense of humility and fear of God. He was a good husband to his wife, a dotting father to the children. He lived a good life, and we are proud of him,” the governor said.
In their separate remarks on behalf of their families, the son of General Opaleye, Kunle, thanked their late father for inculcating a sense of humility in his children, while Lamide, appreciated the governor for standing by their families during their trying times, saying they would cooperate with the sate government on the burial plans of their father.