Lagos Speaker Mourns As Tinubu’s Ally Prof Samuel Dies, Says APC Lost a TitanThe Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described Professor Tunde Samuel, a member of the Governor's Advisory Council (GAC), as a titan whose positive roles in Lagos cannot be forgotten in a hurry. Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. A statement signed by the chief press secretary to the speaker, Eromosele Ebhomele said Professor Samuel, a chieftain and founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), died on Wednesday night, February 16, at the age of 73. Prof. Samuel is reckoned as one of the founding fathers of the Lagos State University (LASU) where he was both a member of the Implementation Committee and a two-time member of the Provisional Government Council. Dr. Obasa, who paid a visit to the home of the deceased on Thursday, said: "Prof. Samuel's demise is a blow, a pain that would take long for us to bear both as people of Agege, the APC as a family, the GAC and the entire Lagos State. Recommended for you Tension erupts as PDP governorship candidate escapes assassination Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng! A retired professor of Political Economics of Education, he was a former Chairman of the Governing Council of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto-Ijanikin. Recommended for you Banks begin payment of old naira notes to customers, set withdrawal limits... Obasa prayed in a statement released by his media office: The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described the demise of Hon. Adetoun Adediran, a former Deputy Speaker of the State as shocking. Recommended for you Africa pays the price as China and Russia muscle in The late Adediran served as a member of the House representing Surulere Constituency 1 between 1999 and 2003. In a tribute by his media office, Dr. Obasa expressed sadness at the former lawmaker's demise saying the late Adediran died at a time her legislative and political experiences were still very important to Lagos and Nigeria. Earlier, the speaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has called on residents of the state and the citizens of Nigeria to approach the New Year with renewed vigour and hope for a better 2022. A statement signed by the chief press secretary to the speaker, Eromosele Ebhomele, said that Obasa gave the advice in his New Year message to Nigerians. The statement which was seen by Legit.ng said that Obasa praised the resilience of Nigerians in the face of the various challenges that came with 2021, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: Legit.ng Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng! "His importance to Lagos State can never be under-emphasised. He was a passionate Lagosian whose thoughts, actions and activities were all geared towards strengthening democracy in Nigeria and the creation of an egalitarian state where individuals would live their lives in peace. "As an academic, he helped Lagos to establish a firm foundation for educational growth and progress with his imprint in our own Lagos State University, the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, where he was Pioneer Provost and as Special Adviser on Education to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when the latter was Governor of Lagos State. "It is worthy to note that his activities in government brought Lagos many laurels and further helped to put the State in a favourable position in the country." "Like a star with brightness that cannot be dimmed, Prof. Samuel's success extended beyond the boundaries of Lagos as he served as Chairman of the Governing Councils for the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa, respectively. He was also an International Consultant for UNESCO and UNICEF. "We will continue to miss his wisdom, knowledge and understanding of how Lagos and Nigeria should be run for the utmost good of the people. We will miss his advice and productive efforts to keep a united APC in Lagos. "I, on behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, pray that God grant him peace and give his immediate family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear this huge loss, amen."