From Adedeji Joseph, Ilorin
The first governor of Kwara State, Brigadier-General David Bamigboye (Retd), is dead.
News filtered into Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Friday that the former governor popularly called ‘The builder of Kwara’ died in Lagos after a brief illness.
His younger brother, Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye; also a former governor of both Bauch and Osun States reportedly confirmed the death to newsmen in Lagos.
Born on December 7, 1940, the deceased who ruled the north central state between between May 1967 and July 1975 was noted for the establishment of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Kwara Hotel, the Government Reservation Area (GRA) and many physical structures at the formative stage of Kwara.
Meanwhile, the current governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has condoled the family of the late ex-governor and the entire Omu-Aran community, Bamigboye’s country home in Irepodun Local Government of the state, over the demise of their prominent son.
A statement by Ahmed’s Chief Press Secretary; Abdulwahab Oba, said his principal received the news of the death with rude shock and described it as a colossal loss to the entire state.
“The vacuum left by the demise of the former Governor particularly at this transition period will be difficult to be filled considering his advice and wisdom”, Governor Ahmed said.
The statement described the deceased as an embodiment of humility and fear of God saying, the government and the entire people of Kwara will miss him for his selfless service to the state.
He added that the deceased would remain evergreen in the history of Kwara because of his laudable achievements as the first Governor and for laying a solid foundation for the growth and development of the state.
Governor Ahmed prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and the family, Omu-Aran community, government and entire people of the state the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.