Newly appointed Kwara Commissioner dies in his sleep 48 hours to resumption

A newly appointed Commissioner 1 in the Kwara State Local Government Service Commission, Olatunji Abel, has died in his sleep forty-eight hours to his resumption at his new office.

Abel, who is from Igbaja in Ifelodun area of the state died on Saturday of a suspected heart attack at his home town on his return from Abia State where ostensibly he made a business trip to.

The deceased was a Lagos-based businessman and on the side a politician.

He was touted by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, which morphed into the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the running mate to the then gubernatorial candidate of the APC, AbdulRahman Rasaq but it was an ill-fated bid.

However, success recently came his way in the form of an appointment.

Gov. Rasaq named him as member of the State Local Government Service Commission appointing him as Commissioner 1 but he passed on two days before he resumed at his desk.

Unimpeachable source told OrijoReporter that late Abel who until his death held the chieftaincy title; Akayejo of Aiyekojo in Igbaja, died hours after going to bed on his return from Abia.

“He died at his home town while sleeping. He just came back from Abia and went to bed in the night only to meet his maker in his sleep,” sources said.

His demise has provoked an outpouring of emotional tributes from his Facebook friends with one Ishola Oluwagbemiga posting: “Rest in peace Egbon Abel Tunji J. Officially, you’re to resume office tomorrow Monday 27th, April after your appointment by the Executive Governor of Kwara State as a Member, Local Government Commission, but death denied you that chance. Continue to rest on. Till we meet to part no more! Today, we just committed your body to the mother earth for the beginning of your everlasting journey.
Heavy Heart.”

Another mourner, Kolawole Rukayat, wrote: “I don’t know what to say,I have repeatedly glanced our few days chats over n over. I feel like hearing this news debunked but God knows better. A complete God-fearing,gentle, amiable, dependable and down to earth brother. rest peacefully bros.”

In his own eulogy, one Lawal Kamaldeen said: “I am shocked when I heard the death of our brother this is so sad and is a great loss for igbaja ward 111, igbaja district and Kwara as a whole, mogba ladura ki olorun, ro mama, egbon, aburo loju, we love him but God love him more than. May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.”