PHOTOS: Olusegun Agagu laid to rest, amidst controversies

By Ngozi Obiwulu

After a series of controversies surrounding the burial of Olusegun Agagu, the former governor of Ondo state was laid to rest on Friday, October 4, 2013 following burial ceremonies at the Manuwa Memorial Grammar School and Iju-Odo Civic Centre, Ondo State.

The Associated Airline plane conveying late Agagu’s body and some of his family members to Ondo state on Thursday October 3 crashed some minutes after take-off at the Sahara premises, close to the Nahco junction of Murtala Muhammed Airport.

The crash which claimed the lives of over 13 people with 7 injured caused panic and pandemonium and also disrupted the funeral rites which had earlier begun at the Democracy Park, Ondo state.

Agagu was buried at about 4pm in his hometown, Iju-Odo, Okitipupa Local Government Area with scores of policemen and also officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission who helped beef up security.

The PDP Chairman in the state, Ebenezer Alabi, announced the decision to continue with the burial programme after meeting with Agagu’s family ‘We have just consulted with the family and it has been decided that they would go ahead with the burial. We are also aware that the casket bearing Agagu’s body was not affected by the crash’ he said.

President Goodluck Jonathan was not able to attend the funeral but was represented by Police Affairs Minister Caleb Olukolade.

Olusegun Agagu was the Federal minister of aviation between May 29, 1999 and 2001. He also ruled Ondo state between May 29, 2003 and February 2009

Check below for some more pictures….