Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has condoled with the family of late former Chief of General Staff, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, describing the deceased as a patriot who played a significant role, at both the state and national levels, in the building of the nation.
Akhigbe, who was also a one-time Military Governor of Lagos State, passed on in the early hours of Tuesday, October 29, 2013, in a New York hospital in the United States (U.S.) where he was receiving treatment.
Speaking with newsmen after condoling with the widow and the son of the deceased, Fashola praised the roles played by him, at both the state and national levels, pointing out that it was to the credit of people like him that the democratic experience being enjoyed today in the country has been sustained.
Describing the former military Vice-President as a true patriot, the governor declared: “His public service roles at the national level at the time of the political turbulence of this country is well documented”, adding that at the state level, he demonstrated farsightedness in his plans for Lagos when he served as governor.
“The footprint of his service is still all around us in Lagos State. The current office, for example, where I serve now as governor, is something that he set out to build many years ago and it is demonstrative of his farsightedness and his plans for Lagos State at the time he served,” the governor said.
He paid glowing tribute to the memory of the deceased, saying it was because of the role people like him played in the governance of Lagos State that it has remained the driver of the economy of Nigeria today.
Fashola posited that at the fullness of time when all the various roles played by various people at various times are put together, it would be clear to many that everybody has a role to play at every time in the process of nation building, adding that irrespective of whatever platform on which such roles were played, all counted in the sustenance of the nation.
“That is why the country remains what it is today, a strong nation reaching out for its promise. That is why our state remains what it is, the driver of the economy of the country, because people like Mike Akhigbe, one of my predecessors, has played their roles and have passed on the torch.
“I salute their patriotism, I salute their service, I salute their contribution in laying the path that we now tread,” the governor said.
Earlier, while filling the condolence register opened in the Akhigbe family residence, the governor wrote: “I salute a patriot and predecessor who did not turn his back when his country called for service. Rest in peace”.
Fashola also visited the Lekki Phase 1 residence of the late Chairman LASACO Assurance Company Plc, Chief Edward Akin Leigh, to condole with his family.
In his remarks in the condolence register opened at the residence, the governor wrote: “We will miss this great civil servant who served us with a smile and with a lot of style. Rest in Peace”.
