Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has eulogised the former Military Governor of old Ondo State, late Major General Ekundayo Babakayode Opaleye, describing him as an epitome of humility who ensured that peace permeated his tenure in the state.

Major General Ekundayo Opaleye who was a Colonel in the Nigerian Army when he was governor of the old Ondo State that comprised the present Ekiti and Ondo States from August 1986 till December 1987; died on November 18, 2023 and has been  laid to rest  in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Addressing dignitaries at the wake-keep, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa represented by his Deputy , Chief Olayide Adelami, mni, said the late General was a total man who gave all to the service of humanity and particularly the people of old Ondo State

“His peaceful disposition permeated all strata of government organs, Public Service, towns and villages across Ondo State.

“Despite being a Military Officer, he showed respect to our Royal Fathers but was equally firm on issues of state, doing the right thing always”, he said.

Also at the Church Service held at the Green Legacy resorts hall of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, OOPL, Abeokuta, Aiyedatiwa  acknowledged the diligence and forthrightness of late  Opaleye.

He said the late Military Governor introduced due process which the state is still following till now and he was also noted for due diligence. “In fact his tenure was the first contact of our Public Service with Due Process in governance as he introduced it,” the governor remarked.

Also in his address during the church service, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun described late Major General Ekundayo Opaleye as a Nigerian patriot who epitomised courage, integrity, leadership and commitment to not just the Nigerian Army but the entire country.

Represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Governor Abiodun noted that the late Major General Opaleye played several roles while in the active service of the Nigerian Army including Military Administrator of old Ondo State, Corp Commander of the Nigerian Engineers and Commanding the OAU’s neutral military observer Corp in Rwanda as well as his role in the country’s peace agreement.

In his sermon, Most Superior Evangelist Olusegun Olarinde noted that death is a debt, saying no matter how one lives on earth, one day he will surely die because everything that has a beginning also has an end.

Most Superior Evangelist Olarinde said General Opaleye gave his best to the service of God and equally respected the calling of every Priest in the vineyard of God.