Mantu Condoles With Adesanya, Akande’s Families

By Bayo Alade - 03.05.2008

EX-Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, has expressed shock at the death of two prominent Nigerians within two-day interval, saying both deaths were a great loss to the country.

Senator Mantu, in a release made available to Saturday Tribune, said the death of both Senator Abraham Adesanya and Professor Jadesola Akande were “least expected and shocking while praying to God to give their respective families the fortitude to bear the loss.

“The two personalities were giants in their rights. While Pa Adesanya died as a political icon and activist, Professor Akande died as an astute administrator and academic, who was well respected for her brilliance and strong will,” he said.

While noting the contributions of Pa Adesanya towards attainment of democracy in the country, Senator Mantu said the robust leadership provided by Pa Adesanya during the dark days of military rule in the country would be documented in the annals of the country’s history.

“For Professor Akande, it was not for the fun of it that she was once appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University, the assignment into which she committed her whole being which further enhanced her relevance in this country as a woman,” he further said.

Senator Mantu, therefore, called on all Nigerians irrespective of their individual callings to take note of the lives and times of the two great Nigerians who did not allow themselves to be messed up by the prevailing political environment in which they lived.