The Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Sikiru Adebayo Osinowo is dead.
Popularly known as Pepperito, he was a member of the Lagos House of Assembly for four consecutive terms from 2003 to 2019.
He died in the early hours of Monday.
Survived by wife and children, the late Osinowo was 65.
He was born in 1955 by the late Alhaji Rabiu Osinowo from Odo-Egbo in Ijebu Ode and Madam Mariamo Taiwo Osinowo. He had his primary education at St. Augustin Primary School in Ijebu-Ode and his Secondary Education in Issoyin Grammar School, Isoyin.
Osinowo studied Building Technology at the lnstituto per Geometri, Rome, Italy. He obtained his Master’s degree at Urbaniana University, Rome, Italy, where he specialised in Building Technology.
Osinowo worked with the Federal Ministry of Works, Lagos State. In 1977, he started his career as a Land Officer at the Federal Ministry of Works till 1979.
He then became the Managing Director at NITAL International from 1986 to 2003. He then became the Managing Director at NIMCO International Co. Ltd from 1990 to 2003. He also worked as Managing Director, at Extreme Piling and Construction Company Ltd and NIMCO Dredging Company from 1990 to 2003.
Osinowo began his political life in the second republic serving as a youth Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Lagos State chapter, has commiserated with Osinowo’s family, the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the party members on “this shocking loss.”
APC Spokesman Seye Oladejo in a statement recalled that the late Osinowo was at the forefront of the battle to entrench democracy.
“He was, particularly, a leading light, in the struggle for the revalidation of June 12.
He was a strong pillar and a stabilizing force as a long-serving member of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Pepper, as he was widely known, will be remembered for his wise counsel, matured leadership, loyalty to the party and commitment to democratic ideals,” Oladejo said.
Senator Gbenga Ashafa, whom the late Osinowo took over from, said he received the news of his death with great shock and deep sadness.
According to him, the late Senator Osinowo was a dear friend and political associate “with whom I have built a relationship that has lasted over two decades.
“Senator Osinowo was a committed leader in the APC who always placed the interest of the party before his. He was also deeply passionate about his constituents, initially in Kosofe 1 Constituency which he represented in the Lagos State House of Assembly for 16 years and then later as the foremost voice representing Lagos East at the floor of the 9th Senate. He spoke the language of the people and enjoyed the love and support of his constituents as well.”