The former lawmaker passed on after a brief illness last Saturday.

Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly are currently mourning the death of a former member of the Assembly, Ayodele Awodeyi.

Mr. Awodeyi, a seasoned banker, community leader and former Lawmaker representing Owo Constituency 1, died on Saturday after a brief illness.

His death was received by many with rude shock.

He was one of the nine lawmakers who stood by Governor Olusegun Mimiko when he was challenging former Governor Olusegun Agagu’s illegal re-election in 2007.

Despite overtures from the then ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, he remained in the Labour Party.

He, however, lost in his bid to seek reelection into the state parliament when some constituents told the governor to give them another candidate; a demand the governor acceded to.

Mr. Awodeyi, popularly known as “Owo onibaje” because of the jingle he sponsored in many radio stations in Akure, later defected to the ACN to give full support to his kinsman, Rotimi Akeredolu, who contested the 2012 governorship election under the platform of the Party.

The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Samuel Adesina, commiserated with the wife and children of late Mr. Awodeyi.

Mr. Adesina said ”in addition his popular sponsored radio programme, ”Owo o ni baje,” the deceased has been a benchmark in contributing to the development of Owo Local Government and Ondo State at large.