The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has mourned the demise of the former Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Chief Tony Adeniyi(SAN), describing his death as an end of a dignified era.
The Ikere Ekiti born Adeniyi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State, died on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at the age of 75.
In a condolence message he personally signed, Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, characterized the life and time of Chief Adeniyi as highly impactful, rewarding and beneficial to humanity, particularly his time at the National Assembly between 2011 and 2015, where he made immeasurable contributions that consolidated the country’s nascent democracy and reset the nation to the path of greatness.
The Senate Leader commended Adeniyi for dedicating his entire life fighting for humanity as a Lawyer, politician and community leader, saying his imprints would remain ever indelible on the sand of time as a leader, who lived a sacrificial life for the sake of the nation.
Senator Bamidele said Chief Adeniyi as a senior colleague at the bar and politics left a legacy of truth, sacrifice and dedication to duties, saying he will be sorely missed by those who cherished his disciplined nature and spartan lifestyle.
Reminiscing on his political participations as a top echelon of the progressives in Ekiti State and Nigeria, Senator Bamidele lauded the sacrifices made by the departed elderstatesman for the growth of the country’s democracy, through his consistent involvement in politics that benefited humanity and expanded the scope of development.
The ranking Senator remembered with nostalgic feelings, how Adeniyi’s consistent progressive spirit buoyed his participations in the legal battles that led to the rebound of the progressive party back to political reckoning in 2010 in Ekiti State, after three years of consistent legal bout across different hierarchies of courts.
Bamidele stated that Chief Adeniyi deserved a special place in history by every standard of measurements, saying his long years at the bar and political turf, had carved a niche for him as one Nigerian who can’t be forgotten so soon.
He commiserated with the government of Ekiti State, the Ikere community and the immediate family of the departed soul for the loss of this political colossus and legal luminary, whose vacuum will be difficult to fill.
“On behalf of my family and constituents, I sympathize with the entire people of Ekiti State on the loss of this great icon, whose life trajectory exemplified love, industry, intellectualism, patriotism, sacrifice, and communalism, having lived and died for the people.
“Chief Adeniyi as a Lawyer was uncompromising and top-notch in his views and participations. He worked hard to build a legal system that can stand the test of time, build an ideal democratic culture and jurisprudence that can make Nigeria attain welfarist status, social justice and good governance. These catapulted him to the zenith of the law profession as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, which he earned through hardwork and meritorious services.
“As a politician, he remained steadfast and uncompromising as a frontline progressive. His contributions to the expansion of the progressive party in Ekiti State since the advent of democracy in 1999 were outstanding. Little wonder, the party gleefully gave him its ticket to represent the people at the Senate in 2011, with full understanding of his unquantifiable worth.
“Throughout the turbulent times, he stood firm with the ideals of progressivism and navigated the bumpy and curvy paths with like minds to build a state we could all proud of. In actual fact, Chief Adeniyi was a result oriented leader. A strong proponent of peace, unity development, and an archetype of honesty.
“I pray to God to grant his soul eternal rest and give the family he left behind the wherewithal to bear this harrowing loss”.
