7th August, 2013
Kazeem Ugbodaga
Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan, in what looked like a charm offensive, today visited Governor Babatunde Fashola in Lagos to commiserate with him on the demise of his father, Pa Ademola Fashola.
Jonathan came on the visit in the company of the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi; Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke; , Minister of Information, Labaran Maku and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Muhammed Adoke. There were also Minister of Commerce, Olusegun Aganga, representing Lagos state in the Federal Cabinet and Senator Ben Obi, an adviser to Jonathan.
Jonathan said Pa Fashola’s death was depressing, which was why he paid a visit to Fashola.
“When we heard about the death of the father of the Lagos State Governor, Alhaji Ademola Fashola, we felt very sad because I know that this is the period that we need his presence most, especially parents that will assist one in handling a number of responsibilities. That was why I told my Chief of Staff that we must pay the Governor of Lagos State, his wife a visit.
“Immediately I heard the news that your father has passed on, I called your phone and I was told that you were airborne coming back from Saudi Arabia where you had gone for Umrah, the Muslim lesser hajj,” he said.
The president said it was sad for the governor to have lost his father at this point, noting that “we must also thank God for the life that he had lived. But we were indeed happy that our father, though, had left us at a very painful moment, has also lived a fulfilled life.
“He had lived to maturity. But most especially, he had been able to replace himself tenfold before departing. You (Fashola) and your siblings are still with us. So many people didn’t have the opportunity of replacing themselves before departing.”
Jonathan added that as the nation mourned the passing away of Fashola’s father, he believed that God who brought him and took him away at this time would provide for the family and cushion the pains that his death might have caused.
“I also pray that all the holes and gaps that his death must have caused, may almighty Allah fill them,’ he prayed.
Fashola, thanked the president and his entourage for the visit, saying his family felt truly honored that “we are one of the few who received the privilege of your personal presence and the members of your entourage.”