The Governor ,State of Osun,Adegboyega Oyetola has described the death of Alhaji Gbadamosi Owoseni Lawal, a foremost progressive politician in the State, as painful.
The late Lawal was said to have died in the early hours of Tuesday, after a brief illness.
Oyetola in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, noted that Baba may have died at the age of 94,he said the death of a loved one no matter their age is usually painful and heartbroken.
He urged the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that their late father and benefactor lived a life worthy of emulation.
“On behalf of the Government and the good people of Osun, I commiserate with the people of Ikirun in particular and Osun in general on the passing of Baba G. O. Lawal.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased and the progressives’ family in Osun. May Allah grant him Aljanat Firdaus,” the governor said.
Lawal was born to the family of the late Akintunde Akinpelu Lawal and Olaperi Adewewe Lawal of Aliyu compound, Oke Ola, Ikirun. He attended Elementary School and later Boys High School, Ibadan, before proceeding to Jos, Plateau State, to work with Naraguta Tin Mines Company. He joined politics after voluntarily retired from his job.
His political career began in 1954 when he contested for the councillorship into Ikirun District Council under zero party and became the Chairman of the council between 1958 and 1959.
Lawal recontested for the council chairman in 1961 but lost. The late politician also contested for the Western House of Assembly as a strong member of UPGA, the amalgamation of the Action Group and the NCNC, but he was denied the opportunity as he was never allowed to submit his nomination papers till the close of nominations.
He was a victim of the political crisis of 1960- 1965, as he lost most of his valuables to the crisis, including his transport company (Owoseni Motors) vehicles.
In 1979, Lawal was elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly on the platform of Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), representing Ifelodun Constituency II of Oyo State.
Lawal was a foundation member of the Alliance for Democracy, AD, in 1998 and became the pioneer Osun Central Senatorial Leader of the Party. He remained in that capacity in Action Congress, AC, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, until the formation of All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2014.
Despite his old age, he was part of the struggle in 2007.
He served as the Chairman, Rural Integration Committee during the regime of Chief Bisi Akande between 1999 and 2003. Until his death, Pa Lawal was the Balogun of Musulumi of Ikirun land and President, Nifaji Club, a leading social elite club in Ikirun.
