Lagos Governor Babatunde Fashola missed his father’s death as he is in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj but will cut short the religious ritual and return home ahead of the burial.

This was confirmed this afternoon by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Hakeem Bello, who is on lesser hajj with him, from where he spoke on phone with journalists in Ikeja, Lagos.

Alhaji Ademola Fashola, who died this morning after a protracted illness a month shy of his 80^th birthday, will be buried by 1pm tomorrow, according one of the governor’s allies, Chief Joe Igbokwe, writing on Facebook this afternoon. Pa Fashola was a devout Muslim and Muslims believe in burying their dead without delay to enable the person make Al jana or paradise.

Meanwhile, condolence messages have started pouring in for Mr. Fashola, a senior lawyer who is regarded as one of the few performing governors in Nigeria.

•Photo shows Governor Fashola.