Prince Ajibola Afonja, a former Minister of Labour and Productivity under the Interim National Government, has passed away.

He died on Sunday night at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the age of 82.

Afonja served as a minister during the brief administration of Chief Ernest Shonekan.

He was also a former Chairman of First Bank and a notable industrialist in his Oyo community, where he was recognized for his company, Integrated Dimensional Systems (IDS).

Afonja sustained injuries from a single-vehicle accident in Ilora, near his country home, and was subsequently taken to UCH in Ibadan for treatment, where he passed away.

Prince Ajibola Afonja, who passed away on Sunday night, was a beloved figure in his hometown, known for his dedication to the peace and development of Oyo.

He was a former senatorial candidate for the Oyo Central Senatorial District under the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The Oyo Global Forum (OGF), a prominent community-interest group, through its chairman, Taiwo Adebayo, confirmed the former minister’s passing in a late Sunday statement.

Adebayo described the late Afonja as a unifier.

The statement reads “On this dark day in Oyo, we mourn the loss of Prince Ajibola Afonja, former Labour Minister and Chairman of First Bank Nigeria, who passed away on Sunday night, aged 82.

“Although a national figure with tremendous influence, he was particularly light for the Oyo community where he made pioneering efforts as an industrialist. His legacy of generosity and open-heartedness touched countless lives, and his presence will be profoundly missed.

“Until his last month, Daddy IDS, as he was affectionately known, as a reference to his manufacturing company, remained hardworking, dedicated to realising one of the most transformative business visions for the country’s economy. It was the E-Customs project,”

“For all of us that he inspired, we shall honor his memory by carrying forward the values he embodied and continuing his legacy of service and compassion, the values that guide OGF, which he supported during his lifetime.” It added

He added that his absence leaves a void that will be difficult to fill, but noted that his spirit of generosity and leadership will continue to inspire the community.

The OGF leader extended the group’s deepest condolences to the deceased’s family, the entire Oyo community, and his friends and associates during this mourning period.

Iran experienced a tragic event as President Ebrahim Raisi, aged 63, lost his life in a helicopter crash.

Search and rescue teams found the wreckage on Monday, revealing that the helicopter was carrying President Raisi, alongside Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and seven other high-ranking officials.

The announcement of President Raisi’s passing was made early Monday morning.

The crash occurred in the rugged mountainous terrain of Iran’s northwest region.

This devastating event comes amid heightened tensions following Iran’s retaliatory drone-and-missile strike on Israel, sparked by an earlier attack on its diplomatic compound in Damascus.

BIZTELLERS reports that Iran faced a wave of uncertainty on Sunday as search and rescue teams navigated through fog-covered mountain terrain in the aftermath of President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter disappearance, which state media labeled as an “accident.”

However, concern escalated for the 63-year-old ultraconservative leader as communication with the aircraft, transporting him alongside Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials in East Azerbaijan province, was lost, according to reports.

Ebrahim Raisi, known for his hardline stance, clinched the presidency in a notably uncompetitive 2021 election.

As the former chief justice, he oversaw a crackdown on dissent during a turbulent period of youth-led protests against clerical authority.

Positioned as the second-most powerful figure in Iran’s political landscape, after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, Raisi’s authority was substantial.

According to Iran’s Constitution, in the event of the president’s demise, the first vice president assumes office pending approval from the Supreme Leader.

A helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi yencountered a “hard landing” on Sunday.

According to report, the incident took place near Jolfa, a city situated on the border with Azerbaijan, within Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.

However, details regarding the incident were not disclosed.

The Associated Press noted uncertainty regarding whether  bh   Raisi was onboard the helicopter during the incident.

Despite rescue efforts, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, have hindered access to the site, according to state TV.

Before the helicopter incident, President Ebrahim Raisi had been in Azerbaijan on Sunday to participate in the inauguration of a dam alongside Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.

This dam marks the third joint construction project between the two nations on the Aras River.

Despite Iran’s diverse helicopter fleet, obtaining parts is hindered by international sanctions, with much of its military air fleet dating back to pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.

Raisi, aged 63, is known for his hard-line stance and previously served as the country’s judiciary leader.

Considered a protégé of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some analysts speculate that Raisi could succeed the 85-year-old leader in the event of his resignation or demise.