Dr Paul Akintelure a governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in ondo state, is dead.
The spokesperson of the APC in Ondo State Alex Kalejaye confirmed the incident early Tuesday.He was said to have died in early hours of March 26, 2024 after complaining of chest pain.
Akintelure’s death occurs a week after raising alarm of complaint about direct and indirect threats in his life.
The deceased further revealed that he had reported the threats to the relevant security agencies and has received intelligence reports and recommendations.
Initially, I hope these incidents would dissipate over time, yet regrettably, they have escalated to pose a serious threat to my life,” his spokesman Oladapo Akintelure said in a March 21 statement.
“The threats against me only strengthen my resolve to stand up for what is right and just. I will not allow fear to dictate our path forward”.
“Let us embrace peace, progress, and unity. Our collective strength lies in our to stand together as one, regardless of our differences.”
The late Akintelure had in 2012 ran as the deputy governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) with Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Before then, he contested for the Ondo South senatorial election also under the ACN.
Akintelure was a Lagos-based private medical practitioner who hailed from Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FS) is mourning the late medical doctor.The group described the death as painful and benumbing.
“We grieve for this sudden passage of our great leader, Dr. Paul Akintelure, whose contributions to not just APC but above all, party politics and democracy in Nigeria, cannot be quantified,” the organisation’s convener Oladipupo Okeyomi said in a statement issued through the LACO-FS State Director of Information Kayode Fasua”.
“The campaign organisation said it has suspended its itinerary for the week in honour of the departed leader”.
“We recall with nostalgic feelings how he, in the dark days of military rule, teamed up with now President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to ensure the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria,” LACO-FS said”.
“It’s quite sad that he left us at a time he was most needed for consolidation and progressive inroads; but who are we to query God?”
Meanwhile,The Ondo APC said it is saddened by the news of Akintelure’s death.
“The State Chairman Engr. Ade Adetimehin who described the deceased as a personal friend, with whom he had a good relationship over the years, said the news is shocking,” the Ondo APC chairman said.
“Akintelure was a highly refined and consistent political figure, whose position was that the essence of being in politics is to build the people and the land.”
“The contributions of the departed political leader, to the development and stability of the Ondo State chapter of APC will not be forgotten.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa LACO-FS, and the entire people of the state, he added, commiserate with the deceased’s immediate family, the people of Igbotako in Okitipupa Local Government Area from where he hailed, the political class and the medical profession, on Akintelure’s departure.