Late Igbo Leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, spoke in glowing terms about Alhaji Ademola Fashola, father of Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, who died Moday and was bried yesterday, Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, has disclosed.

Obi made the disclosure in a condolence message to Governor Fashola, in which he said he was saddened to hear of the death of the senior citizen at 79 at a time he could have been reaping the fruits of his labour.

The Anambra helmsman said although he did not know the late Ademola Fashola personally, he could “distill enough of his character from the personality traits of Governor Babatunde Fashola and from what our leader, who was his personal friend, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, told me about him.

“This is a sad moment for the Fashola family, the people and government of Lagos State and their friends. They have lost a father, brother, counselor and guardian. I extend to you my deepest sympathy and that of the government and people of Anambra State on the painful loss.”

Governor Obi urged Governor Fashola and the people of Lagos State to take solace in the fact that death awaits everyman and that the deceased was the human source of the good season reigning in Lagos State today,” Obi added.

Also joining in mourning the Senior Fashola are the Igbo think tank Aka Ikenga and former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion.

In their condolence message sgned by the President, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, Aka Ikenga that “though he lived a good life surrounded by his children, we console His Excellency because is always a painful loss! We urge you to bear your loss with equanimity.”

From Benin City came Igbinedion’s condolence message, in which he described Pa Fashola as “a devout Muslim whose death during the Holy month of Ramadan signifies his closeness to His Creator.”

According to Igbinedion, “Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola was a quiet and modest man. A good listener. A community leader and a disciplinarian. May Almighty Allah grant him Al-janat.”

Speaking shortly after his father’s burial at the Vaults and Garden Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos, Governor Fashola spoke of their loss, saying: “For all of us his children, he was first and foremost our friend, he was our best friend, so that is what we will miss really; our father was a very loving friend who allowed us to be the best that we could, he allowed us to be what we want to be, guiding and nudging, but never discriminated and that’s why he had children that were Christians, Muslims, children who were Europeans, children who are married across all Nigeria. I think these have fully captured his life.”

Among dignitaries at the graveside and at the Lagos Central Mosque where prayers were offered for Pa Fashola Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke; Deputy Governors of Ogun and Osun states, Segun Adesegun and Titi Laoye Tomori respectively; Senators Gbenga Ashafa and Babafemi Ojudu; former Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

Others includee Alhaji Yakub Balogun, House of Representatives member; Molade Okoya-Thomas, Rasak Okoya, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji; Chief Ayo Akande, Akin Kekere-Ekun, Tunde Folawiyo, Otunba Alabi Mcfoy, Alhaji Lateef Salako; and Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan.

•Photo shows late Ademola Fashola.

Update news