The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has expressed regret over the death of former Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Imam Imam, the speaker described Agagu's demise at the weekend as "a monumental loss coming at a time his wealth of experience and fatherly advice was needed in the country".
He said: "The deceased was a nationalist who championed the unity and tolerance among the people."
Tambuwal described the late Agagu "as a fulfilled gentleman who shared his vast knowledge and experience with many politicians within and outside his beloved state".
Also, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, described Agagu's death as a painful loss to the country, Ondo State, which he served for years and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Akpabio, who is also the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors Forum, said this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Jackson Udom.
He said: "Agagu was a revered leader whose wealth of experience would have been effective in reclaiming the South- West states for the PDP."
In a related development, former governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Danjuma Goje, also expressed shock over Agagu's death.
Goje was the minister of state for Power and Steel when Agagu was the minister between 2000 and 2002.
Goje, in a statement by his media aide, described Agagu as a gentleman, brilliant and patriotic.
He said: "It came to me as a shock, a very rude shock. Dr. Agagu was an absolute gentleman, quite brilliant, and very patriotic. When we ran the Power and Steel Ministry together, you could see his passion for the country.
"He was very dedicated and committed. It must have been these qualities that the people of Ondo State saw in him, and for which they elected him governor in 2003."
Meanwhile, the Nigeria High Commissioner to Uganda, Otunba Omolade Oluwateru, has described Agagu as an uncommon intellectual who brought a lot of thinking into the governance of Ondo State.
Oluwateru, who was Agagu's deputy from May 2003 to February 2009, said in a statement that the former governor's death was a great loss to the country since the vacuum he left behind would be difficult to fill.
He said: "I received the news of the death of a great leader, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, with great shock. His demise has left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. The legacy that he left behind will speak volumes for generations yet unborn.
"Dr. Olusegun Agagu was a leader of leaders and a teacher of teachers. Those of us that passed through his political school of thought will forever remember him for his intelligence, hard work and leadership by example.
"I sincerely send my condolence to the immediate family and the entire political class. May his soul rest in perfect peace."
National Mirror