President Goodluck Jonathan has described the death of Oba Oladele Olasore, Ajagbusi-Ekun Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Area of Iloko-Ijesa in Osun State as “a great national loss.”
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, yesterday, in Abuja, Jonathan said he received the news of Olashore’s death with sadness.
The President said the late traditional ruler was one of the most prominent pillars of the banking profession in the country for many years.
He noted that Olashore’s contributions to the development of Nigeria’s banking sector and his service as Minister of Finance had already assured him a place in the nation’s history.
Jonathan said the monarch would also be remembered for elevating the profile of his once humble community of Iloko-Ijesa through immense personal effort and selfless service.
He joined the Olashore family, people of Iloko-Ijesha and Osun State as well as the monarch’s friends and associates across Nigeria and beyond in mourning him.
Jonathan urged Olashore’s family and friends to be comforted by the knowledge that the deceased had left behind an indelible legacy of great achievements in banking, education, philanthropy and community service.
He noted that the Olashore International School in Iloko-Ijesa, established and nurtured by the late Oba, would stand as an eternal testimony to his commitment and belief in education as a tool for sustainable growth and development.
The President prayed that God Almighty would grant Olashore’s soul peaceful repose.
Fayemi also mourns
Meantime, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has expressed shock on the death of Oba Olashore.
In a statement, Fayemi said the late monarch served his immediate community, his state and the entire country to the best of his ability throughout his life, leaving behind legacies of integrity and excellence.
He said political office holders would miss the wise counsel the late Oba Olashore used to offer in his life which, according to him, added value to governance in the Southwest in particular and Nigeria in general.
Fayemi also described the late Oba Olashore as a consummate banker, an astute administrator, an erudite educationist, a shrewd investor and an altruistic traditional ruler.
The governor noted that Oba Olashore excelled when he served as the Managing Director of First Bank and also shone when he served the nation as Finance Minister.
He said: ‘’The late Oba Olashore graciously accepted to leave the lure of the city to ascend the throne of his fathers in a rustic community like Iloko which he helped build into a global brand, by personally investing in the community and also encouraging others to do so.”
‘’The Olashore International School and Royal Parks Hotel are some of the immortal legacies left behind by this revered royal father who made his community a Mecca for students, tourists and people from far and near.
‘’On behalf of myself, family government and people of Ekiti State, I send this condolence to the family of the late Oba, Iloko community and government and people of Osun State.’’
