By Ayodele Oni
Reactions have been trailing the demise of the chairman of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ekiti State as Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, and his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi expressed shock on the death of the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Paul Omotoso, who passed on Tuesday night.
Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, said he was shocked and devastated by the news of the demise of the party chairman because he did not show any sign of illness during their last meeting.
The Governor , who said he is yet to come to terms with the demise of the APC chairman, described Omotoso as a dependable brother and ally, who was a great and invaluable asset to the APC family as well as the government.
According to him, Omotoso would be eternally remembered as the first party chairman in the state to achieve a back-to-back victory for a party in the political history of Ekiti State.
Oyebanji said the deceased’s selflessness and sacrifices contributed to the internal cohesion which made the Ekiti APC an unstoppable election winning machine in local government, state and national elections conducted during his chairmanship.
This, he said, was made possible by Omotoso’s administrative acumen, diligence, maturity, managerial and diplomatic skills, as well as conflict resolution ingenuity which he deployed in managing the affairs of the party and its teeming members.
The Governor noted that Omotoso was a man of impact endowed with wisdom, which he brought to bear in party and state matters as he was always ready to offer his wise counsel at critical points when such was needed.
He noted that Omotoso excelled in the previous public offices he held including Special Adviser on Legal Matters, Special Adviser on Political Matters, Commissioner for Environment and Commissioner for Special Duties.
Governor Oyebanji added that the deceased’s stellar performance as the APC State Secretary contributed immensely to his emergence as the State Chairman for two terms noting that these speak volumes about his loyalty, commitment, integrity and competence.
“We have lost a dependable pillar in Ekiti development and partner in our development effort as a government. We have lost a great leader, a peacemaker, a humble servant of the people and an altruistic party Organiser.
“On behalf of the Government and the good people of the state, I express condolences to the immediate family of our late Chairman and the people of Imesi Ekiti and the entire members of APC.
“Our prayers and thoughts are with the family of the deceased. May God grant them and everyone of us the fortitude to bear this great loss.And may God grant our dear departed brother eternal rest.”
Kayode Fayemi, the former Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), mourned the passing of the Chairman of the APC describing him as a dedicated leader, unifier and pillar of the party in the state.
In a statement issued by his media office, Fayemi noted that the sudden departure of the Party Chairman has left a void difficult to fill within the APC family in Ekiti State and in all those who knew the departed Party leader.
He described the late Omotosho as a tireless leader and steadfast supporter of the APC’s principles and agenda in Ekiti State.
“Under his stewardship, our party achieved significant victories in recent elections, gaining the trust of our people. This would not have been possible without his commitment to uniting our members and working selflessly for the greater good of our state and nation.”
Fayemi recalled that Omotoso was a long-standing progressive, who had been an official of the Party since the Alliance for Democracy days and later was Secretary and Chairman of APC, after serving as Commissioner for Local Government and Environment between 2010 and 2014, during Fayemi’s first term as governor.
The late party chairman, a close ally of Fayemi, was steadfast throughout the trials and tribulations of gubernatorial politics in Ekiti and the usual vicissitudes of political turncoats.
“He was a stout defender of the Party, maintaining the same level of support for the incumbent Government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.”
 in Ekiti State, Barrister Paul Omotoso, who passed on Tuesday night, as Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, and his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi expressed shock.){kind=link}