Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Agagu’s successor, Governor Olusegun Mimiko; and three other governors – Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers) and Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) – paid glowing tributes to the deceased.
The national leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the party on which platform Agagu was elected governor, also condoled with the family of the deceased.
The Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led ‘New PDP’ also mourned the former governor, saying he was a consummate politician.
In a condolence message, Atiku noted that the former governor’s death came with a personal pain to him, “because he was a friend, and a brilliant strategist.”He continued: “The late Governor Olusegun Agagu not only sat eminently among politicians of note in the country, his contribution to geology, his area of specialization, is also very impressive.Be it in politics, scholarly undertakings or public administration, the late Governor Agagu was a first class material. I will miss him as a friend, but the country will miss him as a worthy citizen and leader.”
Mimiko, in a statement in Akure, expressed shock at the news of the death of his predecessor.
In the statement, signed by the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, he described the death as most unfortunate and hard to believe.
“This news, to say the least, is most shocking and very hard to believe. It is most unfortunate and indeed a great loss,” the brief statement read.
Amosun described as regrettable Agagu’s death.
The governor, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, said the passage of the former governor at 65 was depressing.
“He died at a time when the nation should have benefited more from his wealth of experience as an intellectual, politician and public servant,” he said.
Amaechi, in his own tribute on behalf of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), said:”It is unfortunate that Dr. Agagu, an excellent family man, a consummate politician and academic, and elder statesman passed on at a time our country needed his invaluable service most. His loss is no doubt a monumental loss to our nation.”
“Between 2003 and 2009, Dr. Agagu was an influential member of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. And during that time, the former governor showed he was a man on a mission to improve the lives of his Ondo people in particular and Nigerians in general. His was a voice of reason, moderation and peace at all times that Nigeria was faced with serious national challenges”.
Kwara Governor Ahmed, in his own tribute signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said with the demise of Agagu, the nation has been deprived of his wise counsel and wealth of political experience, especially now that Nigeria is in dire need of political tolerance and moral rejuvenation in order to overcome her developmental challenges.
The PDP described Agagu as a patriot and a brilliant technocrat who discharged his responsibilities both as a minister and governor with finesse.
In a statement signed by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed grief over the death of the former Minister of power and former governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.”
THE Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led ‘New PDP’ said Agagu was a community leader and a consummate politician who was never found wanting in leadership qualities.
A statement in Abuja by nPDP National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, however, said Agagu’s death was a personal loss and a monumental deprivation of Nigeria of the invaluable services of a great patriot.
Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, said Agagu was “one of the titans”of the PDP in the South-west.
“On a personal level, I had a cordial relationship with him, as he was unfailingly courteous and respectful to all”, Akinjide said in a statement.
Senator Bode Olajumoke said he was shocked when he heard the news of the demise of the former governor.
Olajumoke prayed God to give his wife and children the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The Ondo PDP said the death of the late geologist was devastating.
The Chairman of the party, Ebenezer Alabi, in a statement in Akure, said, ” It is on record that Dr Agagu was the founder of the party in Ondo State, its mentor and absolute pillar of support for the party in every ramification.
” He was a steadfast politician whose motive for political participation was to effect a development in the quality of life of his people.”
Chief Bode George, in his tribute, said he was in constant touch with the deceased while away abroad on the best way to resolve the crisis rocking the PDP in the South-west ahead of future elections in the zone, stressing that the only honour that could be done for him was for the party members in the South-west to sink their differences and come together under the same umbrella as a family.
The governorship candidate of the party in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke, said, “For us in Ondo State, we have just lost a colossus , an epitome of humility, and parallel display of intelligence, tolerance, accommodation and the pillar of hope for the less privilege.
“Whatever that has happened in Nigeria for the past one and half decades, Agagu was at the centre, be it in terms of development, exploration, in terms of future ambition of economy, our politics and our nation at large.”
The Ondo APC described the demise of the former governor as a rude shock.
A chieftain of the party, Chief Ade Adetimehin, said the people of the state will s
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