Jonathan pays condolence visit to Fashola

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday visited Governor Babatunde
Fashola at his Marina residence in Lagos State, to condole with him
over the death of his father.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the President was accompanied
by key members of his cabinet, among whom were the Minister of
Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and the Attorney-General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke.
The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku; the Minister of Sports,
Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; the Special Adviser to the President on
Inter-party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi; as well as the Chief Imam of
Abuja, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, were also on the entourage.
The governor and his wife, Abimbola’ his sisters – Arinola Fuwa and
Olayinka Fashola; their children and some members of the state
executive council, were on hand to receive the President and his
entourage.
In his remarks, 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.
Jonathan said: “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.”
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.
He said: “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.”
Fashola also commiserated with Jonathan over the recent loss of his
mother-in-law and prayed to God to grant her soul peaceful repose.
NAN reports that Imam Musa later offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the late Fashola, while the President signed the condolence register.
NAN reports that shortly after the President’s visit, Mallam Nasir
El-Rufai, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, breezed
into the State House in company of two others, to pay a condolence
visit to Fashola.
NAN reports that the late Pa Ademola Fashola died in Lagos on Monday at 79.