Eminent Nigerians converged on Ado-Ekiti,the Ekiti State capital to give their last respect to the decessed speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Funminiyi Afuye.
Amongst them was the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of the State Legislatures of Nigeria, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman,who described the late Speaker as an outstanding legislator and personality with full grasp of the act of lawmaking.
Also the Speakers of Plateau and Taraba states’ Houses of Assembly, Hons Yakubu Sanda and Hon. Joseph Albasu Kunini respectively, spoke glowingly of the departed lawmaker, who they said left indelible footprints in the act of lawmaking in the country.
In the same fashion, the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, branded Afuye as a thorough-bred legal luminary, seasoned legislator, who epitomized finesse and strong character in his disposition to issues.
They spoke in their condolences on the floor of the assembly during a special valedictory session commemorating Afuye’s burial procession , on Thursday.
Afuye, who died of heart attack will be buried in his Ikere Ekiti countryhome on Friday.
He was until his death the Speaker and lawmaker representing Ikere constituency 1.
Suleiman, who showered encomiums in his rendition, added that Ekiti would forever miss the sense of industry and passion for development exhibited by the late lawmaker.
He described the late speaker as an exceptional legislator whose indepth knowledge and experience had impacted positively in the running of activities in the forum.
Suleiman said: “We are consoled by the exemplary life he lived and we are sure he is resting in the bossom of the lord.
In his condolence letter, Oyebanji, explained that Ekiti will miss Afuye’s dedication to duty, life of service, steel of character, for superintending over a creative and rancour-free assembly.
He prayed for the repose of his soul in the bosom of the lord.
Also, former governor Kayode Fayemi, in a separate condolence letter, described Afuye as the “archetypal totality of the treasured Omoluwabi ethos of the yoruba whose nobility transcends generic inheritance”.
He explained that the late speaker played a pivotal role during the sixth assembly in ensuring that the 13 members of the then ACN remained on course.
“And as a speaker of the 8th assembly he provided leadership to the assembly to ensure the success of his administration.
The Deputy Speaker and the presiding lawmaker, Hon.Hakeem Jamiu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the assembly would forever remember Afuye for his contributions to the development of lawmaking in Ekiti.
Jamiu said Afuye had carved a niche for himself for standing firm in the promotion of gold governance in the state,by supporting passage of laws that would improve the wellbeing of the populace.