Oyebanji, Akeredolu, Fayemi, others pay their final respects to Afuye.

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports

It was a gathering of Nigeria’s crème de la crème as the remains of the late Ekiti State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Funminiyi Afuye, were laid to rest after a funeral service on Friday.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, his Ondo counterpart, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, represented by his Deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Governor, Kayode Fayemi and his wife, Bisi, were among those who attended the funeral.

Others include Olorunnibe Mamora, Minister of Science and Technology, former Vice Chancellor Obafemi Awolowo, Prof. Tale Omole, Senators Opeyemi Bamidele, Olubunmi Adetumbi, Dayo Adeyeye, Hon. Femi Bamisile, politicians, and distinguished academia.

Afuye, who presided over the assembly for three and a half years, died on October 19, 2022, of a heart attack at the age of 66.

At around 9.56 a.m., the late Speaker was brought into the church in a white casket, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Titilayo, children, and family members.

The motorcade carrying the corpse began the procession with a long convoy of vehicles at his residence located along Ikere-Ise road, causing a traffic jam for over an hour along Ado-Ikere-Akure way.

Due to the gridlock along that route, the men of the Nigerian Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps had a hectic day controlling the vehicles.

Most Rev Olusola Ajayi, Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Anglican Communion, said in his homily at Saint Peter’s Anglican Church, Oke’kere, that Afuye lived a fulfilled life.