President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday visited Gov. Babatunde Fashola at his Marina residence in Lagos, to condole with him over the death of his father.
The President was accompanied by key members of his cabinet, among whom were the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke and the Attorney-General of the Federation,Mr Mohammed Adoke.
The Minister of Information,Mr Labaran Maku; Minister of Sports,Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; Special Adviser to the President on Inter-party Affairs,Sen. Ben Obi; as well as the Chief Imam of Abuja, Alh. Musa Mohammed, were also on the entourage.
The governor and his wife, Abimbola, his sisters–Mrs Arinola Fuwa and Miss Olayinka Fashola — their children and some members of the state executive council, were on hand to receive the President and his entourage.
In his remark, Jonathan described the death of Fashola`s father as saddening, noting that the late patriarch left at a time when he was most needed to offer counsel that would assist to further develop the nation.
He, however, said that the late Fashola lived a fulfilled life, and and left enduring legacies behind.
“When we heard about the death of the father of the governor, I was very sad because we know this is a period that we need our parents most, especially parents that would assist us in handling a number of responsibilities.
“Mr Governor, it is a sad thing for you to have lost your father at this time, but one must also thank God for the life he has lived. For those of us who are Christians, the Bible tells us we are supposed to live three scores plus ten.
“Anything after that is an addition; we are indeed happy that, though he has left us at a very painful moment, he has lived a mature and fulfilled life. Most especially, he has been able to replace himself ten-folds before departing.
“As we mourn the passing on of our father, we also have to rejoice and thank God for bringing him to bring us. The Almighty Allah that brought him and took him away at this period would also provide for the family.
“May God cushion the pains his death would have caused. All the holes and gaps that his death would have caused, May Allah fill them.` `he said.
The President said the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria were with the Fasholas in this period of their mourning, and prayed that God should give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Responding, Fashola thanked the President and the Federal Government for the support they had given his family since their patriarch died three days ago.
He acknowledged the persistent phone calls that Jonathan had put across to him and the representatives he had sent to commiserate with him since the incident.
“I thank you for the calls you made to me when the incident happened on Monday and the letter you sent, and for sending the Hon. Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi to be with us yesterday at the interment.
“I appreciate your coming personally to visit me, despite the pressures on your time. We feel deeply honoured; I thank you very much Sir. We are indeed grateful “,he added.
Fashola also commiserated with Jonathan over the recent loss of his mother-in-law, and prayed to God to grant her soul peaceful repose.
Imam Musa later offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the late Fashola, while the President signed the condolence register.
Shortly after the president’s visit, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai , a former FCT minister, breezed into the State House in company of two gentlemen, to pay a condolence visit to Fashola.
The late Pa Ademola Fashola died in Lagos on Monday at 79.
