By Mumini AbdulKareem
More facts emerged last night on the death of the Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Alhaji Yusuf Ayedun.
Ayedun died at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) yesterday after a protracted battle with Kidney disease, it was gathered.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in the state was reportedly flown to Egypt and brought back to the state in March, 2017 for treatment.
He will be buried in his hometown, Iwo in Isin Local Government Area of the state today according to Islamic rites, the family told this medium.
His family however recounted Ayedun’s struggle with the disease in exclusive interviews with National Pilot last night adding that he remained of one of the best fathers in the world to his children.
According to Alhaja Rasheedat AbdulKareem, the deceased first daughter, who is also the wife of the former Majority Leader of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon AbdulGaniyu AbdulKareem, late Ayedun breathe his last around 5:00pm yesterday.
Ayedun according to his daughter died at the age of 80 and is survived by 11 children.
Describing his last moments, Hajia AbdulKareem said, “Around 2pm, he could not breathe very well, he was breathing high.
“But as at the time of the Asr prayer, it has gotten worse and we decided to go and pray in order to return and pray for him. But when we came back, it was worse and he could not talk though his eyes were opened.
“I put my hands on his chest and we were crying that daddy you should not leave us now, you cannot leave us now but he couldn’t respond although we could notice he was trying to say something.
“After he came back from Egypt, he was fine until lately when he was having swollen hands and feet.
“Our father died around 5pm at the UITH but his burial was delayed because it was getting to Magrib prayer before we finalised things at the hospital and his body was brought home in preparation for the journey to Isin, today.
According to her, “He was a good father who knows the importance of children and I would love to come back as his daughter if there is such a chance. I will miss his advice greatly.”
Also, his son and former House of Representatives member, Hon Akeem Ayedun said his late father had been sick in the last three months before his death.
“During my last discussion with him, he said he wanted an egg without the yoke and I said he should eat his meal first.
“He was a father in the through sense of the word, upright and forthcoming in all the exercise he was given by the state.”
Reacting to the shocking news, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki described Ayedun as a strong elite who shaped many lives.
Saraki who spoke through the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Legislative Matters, Hon Kayode Omotose in a text message said, “It’s a big loss. He was a strong member of the Saraki political family. A highly reliable and dependable hand who played significant role as chairman of the party.
“As a former secondary school teacher and distinguished administrator, he was an elite who shaped many lives and built leaders of today and tomorrow.”
Similarly, Governor Ahmed in a statement over the incident last night by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba, forwarded to National Pilot commiserated with the family adding that his death was as a rude shock.
The Governor said the deceased would long be remembered for his selfless service to the state, especially as a resource manager and administrator par excellence with unflinching commitment to democratic norms and values.
His death, the statement adds, is a big loss to the state which will no doubt create a vacuum in the APC family. Ahmed prays Allah to forgive the deceased all his shortcomings and grant the entire family, friends, and close associate of late Alhaji Yusuf Ayedun the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Also the APC through its Secretary, Chief Olabode Adekanye said the deceased was one of the trusted leaders of the party adding that “it was shocking. Our expectation was that he will get out of the hospital alive. He contributed to the development of the party at the state and federal levels.”
