The news of the death of Honourable Samuel Sadiku, our brother and friend, got o me with shock and disbelief because of the sequence of events that trailed his demise.
During my last visit to Ogori, I was opportuned to be with him and he showed no sign of a man that an imminent fatality was beckoning on.
A week before his death, he had also communicated to me that his health had improved tremendously.
This was the euphoric state of my mind when I got the shattering news of his transition.
Samuel Sadiku was a man who wore the coat of many colours. Like every mortal, he lived his world and represented different shades of life to different people.
I had my first formal contact with him in 1983 when he was a student of the then Ilorin Teachers College and was at the University of Ilorin. From that starting block, we developed cordiality, fraternity and comradeship as progressive allies operating at the local terrain under the aegis of Ogori Students’ Association (OSA) and at the national political front.
Our links got further integrated when some youths from our community approached me to show interest in the chairmanship race of our Local government. Samuel was approached and he accepted the offer to head our campaign aganization as the Director General.
The position offered him opportunity to showcase his stuff as a fighter for genuine cause. To his eternal credit, we developed a political campaign structure that later served as a blueprint and a referral for subsequent chairmanship aspirants in Ogori Magongo.
On assumption of office as the elected chairman of the local government, Samuel became my natural choice as supervisor for the Works Department, the supposed engine room of the government.
He would be remembered for many feats including the completion of the 4th phase of the local government secretariat through direct labour.
He also served as the supervisor for education during my tenure.
Samuel would also be remembered for his tirelessness, energy and boldness in pursuing his inner convictions.
I join his family, friends, associates and the community to mourn his passage.
I pray for the repose of his soul.
Hon. Mathew Keyi, PhD
Former Chairman, Ogori/Magongo Local Government Council
