The Chairman, Conference of Speakers of the State Legislatures of Nigeria, Hon. Abubakar Suleiman has described the late Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye as an outstanding legislator and a personality with a full grasp of the act of lawmaking.
The speakers of Plateau and Taraba states’ Houses of Assembly, Yakubu Sanda and Joseph Albasu Kunini respectively spoke glowingly of the departed lawmaker, who they said left indelible footprints in the act of lawmaking in the country.
In the same fashion, the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, branded Afuye as a thoroughbred legal luminary and a seasoned legislator who epitomized finesse and strong character in his disposition to issues.
They spoke in their condolences on the floor of the assembly during a special valedictory session commemorating Afuye’s burial procession, on Thursday.
Afuye, who died of heart attack will be buried in his Ikere Ekiti country home on Friday.
He was until his death the Speaker and lawmaker representing Ikere Constituency 1.
Suleiman in his rendition added that Ekiti would forever miss the sense of industry and passion for development exhibited by the late lawmaker.
He described the late speaker as an exceptional legislator whose in-depth knowledge and experience had impacted positively the running of activities in the forum.
Suleiman said: “We are consoled by the exemplary life he lived and we are sure he is resting in the bosom of the Lord.”
In his condolence letter, Oyebanji explained that Ekiti will miss Afuye’s dedication to duty, life of service, and steel of character, for superintending over a creative and rancour-free assembly.
Also, former governor Kayode Fayemi, in a separate condolence letter, described Afuye as the “archetypal totality of the treasured Omoluwabi ethos of the Yoruba whose nobility transcends generic inheritance.”
He explained that the late speaker played a pivotal role during the Sixth Assembly in ensuring that the 13 members of the then ACN remained on course.
“And as a speaker of the 8th Assembly, he provided leadership to the assembly to ensure the success of his administration,” he stated.
The Deputy Speaker and the presiding lawmaker, Hon. Hakeem Jamiu, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the assembly would forever remember Afuye for his contributions to the development of lawmaking in Ekiti.
Jamiu said Afuye carved a niche for himself by standing firm in the promotion of good governance in the state, and by supporting the passage of laws that would improve the well-being of the populace.