Agagu’s stabilising role in the party. After the Court of Appeal sacked him from the Government House five years ago, Agagu returned to the role of leading the PDP, a task he had been shouldering since the formation of the party in 1998.
Even when the PDP was balkanized into three factions, he made efforts to ensure that the party had a foothold in the Sunshine State.
The polarisation took its toll on PDP’s chances at elections held after Dr Agagu left the Governor’s office as even his bid to go to the Senate was frustrated by his party members and he lost the election.
Then, the likes of Professor Olu Agbi who was Agagu’s campaign Manager during his re election bid; the former Works Commissioner and former Secretary to the State Government, Hon Isaac Kekemeke; a four term Senator Gbenga Ogunniya; and his former Special Adviser on Political Matters Chief Segun Adegoke were among those who wanted Agagu to relinquish his hold on the reins of power in Ondo PDP.
Incumbent governor
They were said to have even asked the incumbent governor, Olusegun Mimiko, to return to the PDP. Agagu was said to have opposed Mimiko’s return to PDP because automatically he would relinquish the leadership and play the second fiddle.
But Agagu’s aides have consistently denied that their mentor was averse to Mimiko joining PDP and insisted that the governor was yet to make up his mind. Now that Agagu has left the stage after doing his best for the party and the people of the state, the stage is now set for the campaigners of Mimiko within the PDP to bring him on board. Only time will tell whether or not he will agree.
PDP without Agagu: If improperly many managed, some observers fear that Agagu’s demise may widen the cracks in Ondo PDP and give the ruling Labour Party an edge in coming elections. In fact, it is being rumoured that aside some known names that openly supported Governor Mimiko in the last election as against the party’s choice Olusola Oke many more are said to be talking with the Labour Party administration.
To these party chieftains the demise of Agagu has left them without a formidable leader.
However, some chieftains of the PDP said that Agagu’s demise will rather reunite the factions which will see the ugly and unfortunate incident as a way to settle their past differences, move the party forward and make it more formidable ahead of the 2015 election. Both the LP and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state are angling to benefit from the demise of this political colossus.
Agagu used his connections as a former deputy governor, minister and a governor for six years to worm his way into the hearts of decision makers in the party especially during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He was known as one of the foot soldiers of Obasanjo in the South West and he did not hide his preference to always go the way of the former president no matter whose ox was gored.
Not all those who were aggrieved by the influential role that Agagu played in the emergence of Oke as the party’s governorship candidate in the last election had the courage to challenge him because they feared that they might have to pay dearly for it.
Members mourn Agagu: On hearing the news last Friday, PDP members expressed shock and disbelief. Some shed tears not knowing what the future holds for the party without the politician.
Disciplined and meticulous
Many of them said they are now stranded and wedged between the devil and the blue sea as regards either remaining with the PDP or aligning with Mimiko and the APC.They said that not many of the so called leaders of the party in the state is as disciplined and meticulous and command the kind of respect given to Dr Agagu.
How he died: Agagu died less than 24 hours after returning from a trip to United States. He reportedly slumped and died at his Ikoyi residence, Lagos before he could be rushed to the hospital
The late Dr Agagu was to scheduled meet with President Goodluck Jonathan with some PDP elders from the South West next week on the PDP crisis, which has led to the formation of a new PDP (nPDP).
Agagu’s big shoes: Director of Publicity of the party, Ayo Fadaka said the issue of who steps into Agagu shoes “is a question coming to early,” adding that the party is still mourning its leader and would not want to comment on that now because the party is yet to get out of the shock.
Pillar of support
State Chairman of the party, Hon Ebenezer Alabi, said: ”It is on record that Dr Agagu was the founder of the PDP in Ondo State, its mentor and absolute pillar of support for the party in every ramification. He was a steadfast politician whose motive for political participation was to effect a development in the quality of life of his people.”Alabi said the party will be more united now in a bid to honour the consummate politician.
His footprints: Born on February 16, 1948 at Iju Odo in Okipipupa Local Council of Ondo the State, Agagu commenced his elementary education at St. Luke’s Anglican School, now St. Paul’s Anglican School Okitipupa, in 1954.
In January 1958, he moved to live with his cousin, Edward Fagbohun in Ibadan, Oyo State where he continued his primary education at Ebenezer African Church School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.
In 1959 he was transferred to Kano where he studied at the Ebenezer Methodist School and Baptist Primary School Sabon-Gari, Kano State. He then moved back to Ebenezer African Church School, Ibadan where he completed his primary education in 1960. Thereafter, he was in Ibadan Grammar School between January 1961 and 1967 where he passed his West African School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate examinations.
He was admitted to the University of Ibadan in 1968 to study Botany but later changed to Geology in which he graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree Second Class Upper Division in 1971. As an undergraduate, his academic record was replete with laurels and prizes.Agagu went to the University of Texas between 1973 and 1974 for his Masters degree in Geology. Returning to Nigeria, he obtained a Ph.D degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Ibadan in 1978.
The late Agagu was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo as his first Minister of Aviation in 1999. As deputy governor and later governor, Agagu left an indelible mark across the three senatorial areas of the state in the provision of life impacting and enduring projects.
In the North, central and southern parts of the state, the landmark projects initiated and completed have endeared him to the people. If you had a superior argument on any issue you will win the heart of Agagu and he would not mind going an extra mile to cultivate you.
Given his contributions to the PDP, the warring factions would be honouring him after death by burying their hatchet.
They need to come together in the interest of the party ahead of the 2015 general election otherwise the party will remain in the opposition in the state for many more years to come.
No matter what his critics say about Agagu, the downtrodden see him as a forthright, humane, transparent and not a caring politician, who did not believe in corrupt acquisition of wealth.
Ocean of tributes: Since his death the polity has been awash with tributes forAgagu. Governor Olusegun Mimiko in a statement in Akure expressed great shock and disbelief at the news of the death of his predecessor.
In a statement by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, Dr Mimiko described the death as most unfortunate and hard to believe.
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