Encomium
Mr. Temitope Adewale is one of the children of Dr. (Hon.) Elijah Olu Adewale, the member of House of Representatives who died suddenly on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at his rented apartment in Gwarinpa, Abuja. He told ENCOMIUM Weekly how his father actually died and what is delaying his burial.
We would like to express our condolences on the death of your father.
Thank you very much.
How did you hear about his death?
It was quite an unfortunate thing. He was in very good health. To debunk the rumour about his slumping, he did not slump. He just came back from the plenary session after which they had a caucus meeting.
He had dinner and sat on the chair and had a bottle of water with him and then he passed on. He did not slump. That is exactly what happened.
When last did you see or spoke with him?
I spoke to him around 10 pm, the night before he was found dead in the morning.
On Wednesday, July 27, 2016?
Yes, on Wednesday. I was supposed to call him back in the morning (Thursday, July 28, 2016) for some errands that I ran for him. By the time I called him in the morning, he wasn’t picking up. Few hours later, the driver
called me and said that Honourable told him to come here early in the morning to get the car ready and he hasn’t come out yet. I told him to check his place whether it was opened. He did and found him dead.
So, the driver forced the door open?
No, the door was not forced open. As soon as I heard about it, I called the leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, I also called Hon. Dapo Lam Adesina and some other honourable members. They all went there and confirmed it.
Was it true that he was not living with anybody?
Dr. Jah had a very easy lifestyle. He only spent two nights in Abuja for the Tuesday and Wednesday plenary sessions and on Thursday, he packed his bag back to his constituency (Ifako-Ijaiye). So, he had no need for anybody to live with him.
We gathered that his corpse is still in Abuja because of the autopsy. Has it been done now?
They have finished the chemical autopsy. We are now waiting for toxicology autopsy. That is what we are waiting for now.
How is your mummy and other siblings taking the death of your father?
It was sudden. It wasn’t like he was sick for a while or bedridden for a while. In fact, he had packed his box already preparing to come home. It was shocking and a tough one for them. It is not easy. It is tough.
We gathered that you were the closest to him among his children.
He was close to all of us. We were all close to him in different ways.
What would you say you are going to miss about him?
I will miss everything about him. Everything I know today, everything I am today it was him. He was there for me.
What is the funeral plan now?
Until the autopsy arrives and the House of Representatives completes their own service for him, then we will move on from there. So, whatever we are doing is going to start in September.
Where is he going to be buried, Lagos or Ilesha, Osun state?
As at this morning, we haven’t even thought about that. But as soon as the autopsy is ready, all burial rites will be communicated to you.
THOSE WHO WANT TO REPLACE DR. JAH
The death of Hon. Dr. Elijah Olu Adewale, the member of House of Representatives representing Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency who died suddenly on Wednesday, July 20, 2016, after just spending on year in the Lower House has opened opportunity for another member to replace him. According to constitution, a by-election must be conducted after 90 days of the death of a member already making clandestine moves to be selected or elected by their party, APC to replace Dr. Jah.
Among those that we gathered are making moves are Otunba Michael Yomi Ogunnusi who won the seat in 2011 and was in the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015. He was however defended by Dr. Jah in the primary in 2014.
- Benjamin Olabinjo, the current Special Adviser to Governor Ambode on Commerce and Industry, we gathered has also shown interest in replacing Dr. Jah.
- Olabanjo, was two time chairman of Ojokoro LCDA are was interested in going to the House of Assembly but was defeated at the primary.
- Prince Gboyega Salvador Adebayo, the former Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on Rural Development is also said to be interested in occupying the Ifako-Ijaiye federal constituency seat in the House of Representatives.
