Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday lost his father, Mr. Ademola Bayo Fashola. The governor’s father died at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos at the age of 79. He would have been 80 next month. His body will be buried today at 1:0pm at Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Although Governor Fashola was in Saudi Arabia for Umrah (lesser Hajj) when his father passed on, but his media aide, Hakeem Bello, who confirmed the incident, said the burial arrangement would be made known when the governor returns from Saudi Arabia.
Bello told National Mirror on the telephone that the governor would be back for the burial. In another statement issued by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Mikhail Lanre Babalola, the late Fashola survived by wives and
eight children and many grand-children.
The statement read: “In total submission to Will of Almighty Allah, we announce the passage of our husband, father, grand-father and great-grand-father, Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola, which occurred today, August 5, 2013, at the age of 80. He is survived by his wives, children, grand-children and great-grand-children. “His body will be buried on August 6, 2013, at Vaults and Gardens in Ikoyi at 1:0pm.”
Meanwhile, sympathisers thronged the 31, Ladipo Labinjo Crescent, Old Bode Thomas Road, Lagos, to commensurate with the Fashola family, as Muslim and Christian clerics prayed for the family.
President Goodluck Jonathan sympathised with the governor on the death of his father. In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said he commiserated with Governor Fashola on behalf of himself, his family, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria.
The statement read: “As they mourn Pa Fashola, President Jonathan urges Governor Fashola, his family and people of Lagos State to give thanks to God Almighty for the octogenarian’s very exemplary and accomplished life.”
The President urged them to be comforted by the knowledge that Pa Fashola is returning to his creator as a very blessed and fulfilled man who lived to see his son become a two-term governor of one of Nigeria’s most populous and vibrant states. Jonathan said he joined Governor Fashola, members of his family and the people of Lagos in praying to God to grant the deceased peaceful and eternal rest.
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola described the death of Pa Ademola Fashola as a glorious exit. Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said his death would leave a huge vacuum in the extended Fashola family as well as in Lagos social and political circles.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, in a statement issued in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, described the death of Pa Fashola as a great loss to the family.
The statement reads: “Papa was a devout Muslim, community leader and a shining example of humility and philanthropy, as he shared virtually everything he had with the needy, irrespective of where they came from.”
National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the death of Pa Ademola Fashola as a sad loss to the nation, describing him a perfect gentleman. He said the nation has lost another unassuming Nigerian who loves and care for everyone.
Mohammed said: “He was a very discipline man. Despite being the father of the governor, you can hardly know if he was the true father of Governor Fashola.
He didn’t act as the father of a sitting governor. He was so humble, a not proud person and lived a very simple life. Alhaji Ademola was very perfect gentleman.
May Allah grant him Al-janat Firidauz.” A constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, described the news of the governor’s father’s death as devastating. Sagay said: “The death of Fashola’s father is emotionally devastating. It is shocking. I will personally write to the governor to commiserate with him.
The Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) said it received with shock the passing away of Pa Ademola Fashola, saying that his death during Ramadan was a clear indication that Allah would over look his shortcomings.
The group sympathised with the governor and all members of his family on the transition of their patriarch to the greater beyond. Also, the Ndi-Igbo Progressive Movement and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) commiserated with the governor over the death of his father.
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