Ex-Ekiti State Acting Governor And Speaker, Chief Friday Aderemi, Dead At 74

Former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Chief Friday Aderemi, passed away today at the age of 74 years. Chief Aderemi, an indigene of Ayetoro-Ekiti, died at the state University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday after a brief illness.
The late Mr. Aderemi, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi and played prominent roles during struggles to reclaim the Governor's mandate from Dr. Segun Oni.
In 2003, he was elected to represent Ido/Osi Constituency 2 at the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
In 2004, he became the Speaker of the state House of Assembly after the impeachment of his predecessor, Hon. Sola Ajigbolamu.
The deceased ruled the state for one day as acting governor after Ayodele Fayose was removed from office in October 2006.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, the incumbent Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi expressed his regret over the death of Chief Aderemi.
The Governor said the history of Ekiti,  as a political entity, would not be complete without a generous mention of Aderemi's contributions as a teacher, legislator, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Acting Governor, and lately as chairman of the state's Education Trust Fund.

"Chief Aderemi saw politics as an opportunity to serve the people, and he did that to the best of his ability serving as a worthy representative of his constituency in the old Ondo State and Ekiti State," the statement read.

"He was a decent politician and diligent parliamentarian. No wonder he was elected Speaker in the Second Assembly in Ekiti State. And he brought maturity to bear in presiding over the affairs of the Assembly.

"Providence thrust the governance of the state on his shoulders when he emerged as Acting Governor on October 16, 2006 and acted in the interest of the people for the two days he spent in office.

"Despite his attainment of enviable political heights in life, he lived among his people in Ayetoro-Ekiti and was ever ready to contribute to the development of his community in particular and the state in general.

"May the gentle soul of this great Ekiti son and legend continue to find rest in the bosom of the Lord as we all mourn his demise.

"On behalf of the government and people of Ekiti State, I commiserate with his immediate family, friends, associates and other Nigerians whose lives have been touched by this patriot."
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