Jonathan pays condolence visit to Fashola

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, paid a condolence visit to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, over the death of his father, Pa Ademola Fashola.

Pa Fashola, 80, died Monday after a brief illness.

Jonathan was was accompanied by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Ministers of Petroleum, Information, Trade and Investment Sports and Chairman of National Sports Commission, NSC, Mr. Muhammed Adoke; Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke,  Mr. Labaran Maku, Mr. Olusegun Aganga and Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, respectively.

The Chief Imam of Abuja, Central Mosque, Alhaji Musa Muhammed,  who was in the presidential team,  led the prayer session at the State House, Marina,  during the short visit.

From left: Senator Ben Obi, Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Inter-Party Affairs; Mr. Labaran Maku, Minister of Information; Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum Resources; Dr. Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment; Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, Minister of Justice; President Jonathan; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State; Dame Abimbola Fashola and Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Minister of Sports; during President Jonathan’s condolence visit to Governor Fashola at the Lagos House, Marina, Wednesday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez.

Speaking, President Jonathan described the death of Pa Fashola, as very sad, saying, “I know that this is the period that we need his presence, most especially, as a parent that will assist one in handling a number of responsibilities. That was why I told my Chief of Staff that we must pay a visit to the Governor, his wife and the entire family.

“It is a sad event for you (Fashola) to have lost your father at this point. But we must also thank God for the life that he had lived. We were indeed happy that your father though he had left us at a very painful moment, he also lived a fulfilled life.

“He lived to maturity. But most especially, he had been able to replace himself tenfold before departing. You (Fashola) and your siblings are still with us. So many people didn’t have the opportunity of replacing themselves before they departing this world.”

Also, former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasru-el-Rufai, paid a condolence visit to Fashola

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Meanwhile, a  member of the National Assembly, Alhaji Yakubu Balogun and former Deputy-Governor of the state, Princess Sarah Adebisi Sosan, yesterday, commiserated with  the governor  over  the death of his father .

Sosan, in a statement, said “Even though he gave up at the age of 80, his demise is painful as we have lost a true, honest, steadfast, committed and highly dependable elderstatesman whose contributions to the growth of modern Lagos through strong support and advice, is legendary.

“Pa Fashola even at that age was a man no one would want to lose, especially at a time like this.

“I therefore, on behalf of myself  and my family send our condolences to Governor Babtunde Raji Fashola on this great loss, while we pray that the Almighty Allah would give both the immediate and extended families and Lagosians the fortitude to bear the loss.”

She urged the governor and former boss, “who I was privileged to work with in life to, please, take solace in the fact that Papa had lived a fulfilled life and should not allow his demise to demoralise him from delivering democratic dividends to the people of the state.”

On his part, Balogun said, “Pa Fashola was a great man who spoke the truth at all times, with fear of God as his watchword.”

Balogun, who represents Lagos Island Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, said Pa Fashola would be greatly missed by all.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Board of Trustees, BoT, Chief Don Etiebet, in a condolence message, said: “May the soul of Pa Ademola Fashola rest in perfect peace and while we mourn the loss of the pillar of strength and the foundation of achievements and focus of His Excellency, we pray that Almighty God will give him the grace to withstand the irreparable loss with fortitude.”