President Goodluck Jonathan, a former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan and two governors on Tuesday extolled Pa Ademola Fashola, the late father of Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.
The governors are Mr Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Dr Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti).
Jonathan, in a message to the interment at Ikoyi, Lagos, said Fashola lived a fulfilled life and died at the ripe age of 80 years.
“I express my condolences to the governor and other members of the family; I wish the late governor’s father Aljanah Fidau (the biggest paradise),’’ the president said.
The Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdulahi, represented the president on the occasion.
Gov. Fashola, who hurriedly returned to Lagos last night from Saudi Arabia where he was performing lesser hajj, carried out the dust-to-dust ritual on behalf of family members.
He commended President Jonathan for rallying round the family in the moment of grief.
“I thank Mr President who called persistently until he got to me; he sent his representative to this occasion today — the Minister for Sports.
“I will like to say thank you very much to everyone who has rallied round the family even before I came back from Saudi Arabia.
“My brother governors, Imams and everybody, I thank you. Our gratitude is deep and immense and we cannot fully express it.
“My father was a loving friend, who allowed us to be the best we can. He guided us and encouraged us to succeed,’’Fashola said.
The governor said the family was glad that Pa Fashola passed on in the holy month of Ramadan and prayed to God to grant him a comfortable rest in Allah’s bosom.
Speaking on the occasion, Fayemi thanked God for giving late Fashola the grace to live an exemplary life.
“The legacies he left behind are worthy of emulation.
“We thank God that he left good children who are going to continue where he stopped and further promote the development of humanity.’’
In his comment, Amosun said the achievements of Gov. Fashola in Lagos were proofs that the deceased cared for his children and humanity.
The Chief Imam of Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Akinola Garba, led prayers on the occasion.
Among the dignitaries, who attended the burial, included a former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori and Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas.
Others are the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Rep.Yakub Balogun, and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, a business mogul.
