By OLA AJAYI
IBADAN — Politicians across the country, yesterday, put their political differences aside and paid tributes to the former governor of Ondo State, late Olusegun Agagu.

Among those  gathered at the International Conference of the University of Ibadan, the alma mater of the deceased politician, were  former President Olusegun Obasanjo, incumbent South West governors, former governors, captains of industries, academics, royal fathers and other eminent Nigerians.

Governors of Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states, Abiola Ajimobi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Dr. Kayode Fayemi respectively were in attendance.

Others included former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Ayo Fayose, Gbenga Daniel and Segun Oni of Osun, Ekiti, Ogun and Ekiti states respectively, while Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State was represented by his Special Adviser on Media.

Chief Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Bola Obasanjo, described the late politician as a detribalised Nigerian and a committed politician.

He said: “We shall all miss Olusegun Agagu. The family will miss a very loving and responsible father; friends will miss a reliable friend who is loyal, frank and unpretentious; Nigeria will miss another great son who is a selfless and committed nation builder… Sun un re o” – meaning  “may he rest in peace.”

Ajimobi said: “Today is a very solemn day in the lives of the people of Oyo State. We have lost a friend, a patriot and a brother.

“Dr. Agagu represented the best of us, indeed one of the trail-blazers of professionals in the murky waters of politics.”

In his own words, Ogbeni Aregbesola said: “We saw in him a responsible intellectual who always enjoyed adding value to people’s lives until he breathed his last.”

Dr. Fayemi simply said: “He lit the candle and showed the pathway to some of us.”