Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has described the death of Mr Adebowale Balogun, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Public Infrastructure and Transportation, as painful and a sad loss to the state.
Makinde, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Taiwo Adisa, condoled with the family of the late permanent secretary and the entire workforce in the state.
He described the deceased as a man who dedicated his life and times to the development of the state.
According to Makinde, the loss of Balogun to the cold hands of death few days after the loss of the Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Mr Simiyu Adepoju, has left a huge vacuum in the state’s infrastructure reformation drive.
“The news of the death of our hardworking permanent secretary in charge of the Ministry of Works has dampened our morale. It is one death too many.
“Balogun’s exit at this time is painful and shocking, because he left the stage at a period that his wealth of experience is mostly needed, but we cannot query the Almighty who allowed his departure at this time,” he said.
The governor described the late permanent secretary as a hardworking official, who was always ready to contribute his quota to the development of the state and the success of this administration in the public works and infrastructure sector.
“We can only condole with his family, friends and colleagues in the state civil service, and pray God to grant us all the fortitude to bear the loss.
“We equally pray for an end to sudden deaths in the state.
“May God grant Balogun aljanah firdaus,” the governor said. (NAN)
