Olaolu, son of the Senate Republic Senate Leader, Dr Olusola Saraki, said in Lagos on Wednesday that his father died of cancer.

''He has been battling cancer for about five years. He was fine this morning. He was comfortable and even said his prayers.

''He died in the presence of one of my brothers, my mother and my two sisters," Olaolu told newsmen at his father's residence on Cameron Road, Ikoyi. ''He gave up the ghost at about 6 a.m.," he said.

Meanwhile, ACN leader Bola Tinubu has described the late Saraki as a statesman of immense character.

''Saraki was a national hero to many of us in this country and had greatly contributed to the freedom and political emancipation of Nigerian democracy,'' saidTinubu, who spoke with newsmen at the Saraki residence in Lagos.

''His death came as a shock but he has lived a very fulfilling life. His death is a loss to the country."

Tinubu said that the country should learn Saraki's political strategy and maturity.

''The ability to create a political platform that endures is part of his legacies. He understood the country's political terrain so much and that made him contribute greatly to the evolution of democracy and sustenance of welfare programmes.

''We have lost a man of immense political strategy at the time Nigeria needs to promote and further our democratisation in a free and fair election that will elect true leaders.

''As a political leader and philanthropist, his philanthropic character will be immensely missed," he said.

In its reaction, the South West Chapter of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) described Saraki's death as a tremendous loss to the nation and Kwara.

The South West Secretary of the CNPP, Mr Austin Nnorom, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that "the late Saraki was a nationalist".

''A vacuum has been created by his death," he said.

(NAN)