The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and the APC in Oyo State have joined other Nigerians and organisations in mourning the death of late Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN).
Both organisations expressed their condolences in separate statements made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former Attorney General of the Federation died on Tuesday morning at his residence.
ALGON Chairman, Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, in a statement described the deceased as a cerebral and astute politician of note during his lifetime.
“It was under his watch as the Attorney General that Nigeria temporarily reversed executions of armed robbers, abolished a decree barring exiles from returning to the country and many other reforms,” the statement said.
Akinjide, it said, would forever be remembered in the political history of Nigeria for his witty and cerebral prowess in proferring solution to the winner of the 1979 presidential elections.
“The late Akinjide believed Nigeria’s problems started when the military returned into government. He said military had no business in government, but rather to protect territorial integrity of the nation.
“He attributed military incursion into politics as the greatest mistake we made in the history of Nigeria and had hoped this country would never make that mistake again,” the statement said.
The association said Akinjide’s foray into the legal profession and politics would forever remain indelible in the history of the country.
The APC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Dr AbdulAzeez Olatunde, also said the demise of Akinjide had robbed Ibadan, Oyo State and Nigeria of another political titan.
The party described the late legal luminary as one of the few illustrious sons of Ibadan whose brilliance would be missed.
“On behalf of all the members of APC in Oyo State, we pray for Almighty God to forgive the deceased and grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss of his exit from our midst,” it said.
