Tributes have been pouring in for Second Republic Senate Leader Dr Olusola Saraki who died on Wednesday in Lagos, aged 79.

The Deputy Governor of Kogi, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, described the death as "painful" and urged the people of Kwara to take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.

In a statement by his Press Secretary, Mr Michael Abu, in Lokoja, on Wednesday, Awoniyi said: "the death came to me as a rude shock,” stressing, however, that thanks must be given to God for the life Saraki spent.

He said that the former Senate Leader made marks in life, especially in stabilising democracy in the Second Republic.

Sen. Smart Adeyemi described the elder statesman and politician as a great man of "unequalled philanthropy".

Smart told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that Saraki’s death was a sad blow to Nigeria, especially the people of Kogi and Kwara.

"Baba was a great man. He is a big loss to Nigeria, especially those of us from Kogi and the old Kwara.

"He was one of those who encouraged me to go into politics. I see him as my political father. ‘’

He said Saraki contributed immensely to the development of the people through the provision of infrastructure across the old Kwara.

He added that late politician devoted his entire life to the cause of the masses, adding: "he was a man committed to the wellbeing of the masses.

"He was an outstanding politician whose cornerstone of politics is the masses. He was a lover of the poor and his philanthropy extended beyond religious boundaries.

"Baba was a great man who contributed to the development of the first set of infrastructure we have in the old Kwara. He would be seriously missed because of his commitment to the downtrodden."

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), told NAN that Nigeria had lost yet another colossus.

"Irrespective of the political divide, Saraki was a colossus. He was one of the few politicians that you could call the `man of the people’.

"He was a charismatic politician, very unique and a man who dominated Kwara politics for over 35 years," he said.

Mohammed described Saraki as one of the last titans in the nation's politics, who would not only be missed in Kwara, but in Nigeria.

According to him, it is unfortunate that the old stock is fast depleting. This is coming on the heels of the death of a former Oyo State Governor, Lam Adesina, on Nov. 11.

"This is a challenge to the younger ones to carry on."

Prof. Pat Utomi, the 2011 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Mega Party (SDMP), said Saraki brought so much colour to politics in Kwara, noting: "I am saddened to hear his death.

"I recall the first time I met him in 1978 when he was in the Constituent Assembly and he lived around the corner from my parent’s house in Bode Thomas, Surulere.

"The enthusiasm with which he entered politics as a medical doctor is worth emulating."

A former governor of Ekiti, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, described the late politician as a true Nigerian patriot.

Adebayo said Saraki was somebody "I hold in great esteem. My interactions with him revealed his love for Nigeria. He will be greatly missed for his words of wisdom and advice".

The Chairman of CFAO Motors, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, said: "A good man has left us. We were too close and I am too sad to say anything."

The spokesman for Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Mr Yinka Odumakin, said death was a lesson to great men that they would meet their creator one day. We must use our time on earth to affect lives. May his soul rest in peace."

Also commenting on the politician’s death, a Lagos chief and in-law to Saraki, Adekunle Ojora, expressed shock at Saraki’s demise.

"The family of Ojora is mourning the demise of a great man. He was great in life and had a great stature in his role in the political evolution of Nigeria and that cannot be denied anywhere.

The Olofa of Offa in Kwara, Oba Mohammed Gbadamosi, said Saraki's death was a great loss to the state and Nigeria, adding: "he will be greatly missed." (NAN)