Gov Fashola’s father dies at 80, burial today •Jonathan, govs, Tinubu commiserate with him

 by  Lanre Adewole - Lagos

LAGOS State governor, Babatunde Fashola, lost his father,  on Monday, at the age of 80. He will be buried today.

A statement by the governor’s Chief of Staff, Mr Mikhail Olanrewaju Babalola, read: “In total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, we announce the passage of our husband, father, grand father and great grand father, Ibrahim Ademola Bayo Fashola, which occurred today at the age of 80.

“He is survived by his wives, children, grand children and great grand children. He will be buried on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi at 1.00 p.m.”

He left behind eight children — Arinola Fuwa, Olayinka Fashola, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Ademola Fashola, Omolara Fashola, Adewale Fashola, Ademola Fashola Jnr and Ademola Keji Fashola.

Jonathan condoles with Fashola
Leon Usigbe - Abuja

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State on the death of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola in Lagos on Monday.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president, on behalf of himself, his family, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, conveyed sincere condolences to the governor.

The statement said that as they mourn Pa Fashola, Jonathan urged Fashola, his family and people of Lagos State to give thanks to God Almighty for the octogenarian’s very exemplary and accomplished life.

He urged them to be comforted by the knowledge that Pa Fashola was returning to his Creator as a very blessed and fulfilled man who lived to see his son become a two-term governor of one of  Nigeria’s most populous and vibrant states.

The statement added that Jonathan joined Fashola, members of his family and the people of Lagos in praying that God Almighty will grant Pa Fashola peaceful and eternal rest from his labours on earth.

Sombre mood envelopes house As Mark commiserates with him
Bola Badmus And Dapo Falade

A sombre mood prevailed at the residences of the late Alhaji Ibrahim Fashola, father of the Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola, located at Ladipo-Labinjo Crescent and the governor’s personal home at Eric Moore, both in Surulere, following the death of the 80-year-old man.

The same also obtained at the Lagos State House of Assembly premises, the Governor’s Office, Government Secretariat, Alausa, as well as the governor’s official residence at Marina, Lagos.

However, family sources said Governor Fashola was currently in Saudi Arabia performing the lesser hajj and was said to be particularly grieved because of his closeness to his father, whom he very much resembled, but had accepted the death of his father as the will of Allah.

A statement issued by the state government, signed by the Chief of Staff (COS) to the governor, Alhaji Lanre Babalola, announced that the deceased, “our  father, grand father and great grand father, Ibrahim Ademola Bayo  Fashola died on  Monday, August 5, at the age of 80.

It said that the remains will be buried on Tuesday at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi at 1.00p.m “to enable Governor Fashola who was on Ummrah to Saudi Arabia as at the time of his death to witness his burial.”

Alhaji Fashola is survived by his wives, eight children, grand children and great grand children, among them is Governor Fashola.

In a related development, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, has described Pa Fashola as an accomplished man who lived an eventful life worthy of emulation.

This was contained in a condolence message sent by Mark to the Lagos State governor, the government and people of the state over the demise of the governor’s father.

Lagos PDP expresses sorrow
Bola Badmus-Lagos

Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed sorrow on the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola, father of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, who died in the early hours of Monday at the age of 80 after a brief illness.

Chairman of the party, Captain Tunji Shelle, expressed sympathy in a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, while commiserating with the governor and the Fashola family, describing the deceased as truly accommodating and one who related very well.

Shelle, who said the late Alhaji Fashola was a patron of his club who did not underrate any person, adding that he was a simple, focused and thoroughbred ‘Lagosian’, “whose personal character was also a reason why the young governor got no pressure from his father.

“He was also known to be a silent achiever,” Shelle said.

“On behalf of my family and of the teeming members of our party in Lagos State, I express our deep sorrow on the death of Pa Fashola, the beloved father of Governor Fashola.

“It is very sad that Pa Fashola died before his son finished in office. I believe he must have loved to have a post service reunion with the son.

“No doubt, he died a fulfilled man. We join sympathisers in consoling the governor, just as we believe the governor would be really touched by the death of his dear father.

“We pray that the Lord bless his soul and grant the entire Fashola family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

I will miss Fashola’s dad a lot —Victor Olaiya
SIR Victor Olaiya, a highlife maestro and childhood friend of the late Pa Ademola Fashola, on Monday said he would miss the deceased a lot.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fashola, 79, the father of the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, died in the early hours of Monday in Lagos. Olaiya, who was among the early callers at the residence of the deceased, told newsmen that he was humorous and loved to make people happy.

“I will miss his jokes and his smile. We were together many years ago when he was at Daily Times. He was nice, humble and kind and it would be difficult not to miss somebody like that,’’ the music legend said.

He gave Lagos, Nigeria his best —Tinubu

SENATOR Bola Tinubu has said that Pa Fashola gave his best to Lagos and Nigeria while he was alive.

“While in the USA, I received the news of the death of Pa Ademola Fashola, the father of the Governor of lagos State, Babatunde Fashola with great shock and deep sadness. His demise  even at the ripe age of 79 years is a hurtful one and we have indeed lost a true, honest, steadfast and dependable father. Pa Ademola Fashola a man of integrity is a father no one would want to lose at a time like this. My family and  I send our heartfelt condolences to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola on this great loss.

“We must find solace and take comfort in the fact that Baba lived a fulfilled life and passed away with the knowledge that he gave his very best to his family, to Lagos State and Nigeria. There is no greater testimony to this than his son, Babatunde Fashola, the governor of  Lagos who has given a new meaning to good governance and purposeful leadership,” Tinubu said.


As Mimiko condoles with him
Yinka Oladoyinbo - Akure

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, has condoled with his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), over the death of his father, Alhaji Ademola Fashola, who died on Monday at the age of 79.

In his condolence message, Dr Mimiko said the late Fashola would surely be missed by all, especially for his genuine display of love.

 “It is sad that Papa did not wait to mark his 80th birthday, which would have  come up next month, but God knows best,” Mimiko said.

“In his life time,” Mimiko continued, “Papa displayed genuine love to all and sundry. He was religious, very open and full of wisdom. I pray Allah grant him eternal rest.”

Dr Mimiko also prayed that God grant the bereaved governor and the entire Fashola family the fortitude to bear the loss of their late father.

“It is sad losing a good father like Pa Fashola, who was cherished and loved by all. But there is consolation in the fact that he lived a worthy and exemplary life and only God can give the bereaved family the grace to bear the loss,” Mimiko added.

Ajimobi too

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has condoled with his Lagos State counterpart, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, over the passing away of his father, Pa Ademola Fashola at the early hours of Monday.

Ajimobi, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, described the demise of the patriarch of the Fashola dynasty as a great loss to the family.

“Papa was a devout Muslim, community leader and a shining example of humility and philanthropy, as he shared virtually everything he had with the needy, irrespective of where they came from,” he remarked.

Although the governor said that the deceased would be sorely missed by his immediate family, the people of Lagos State and indeed, the whole of South-West, he admonished Governor Fashola and his  siblings to take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.

Sen. Ajimobi prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased, and the Fashola family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Fayemi too
Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti

Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has commiserated with his Lagos State counterpart, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), on the death of his father, Alhaji Ademola Fashola.

Fayemi, in a statement on Monday, remarked that he understood what Governor Fashola was going through, having tasted the same experience of losing his own father four years ago.

The governor said although his Lagos counterpart would definitely feel the pain of losing his father, he urged him (Fashola) to be consoled by the fact that the deceased lived a fulfilled life and to a ripe old age.

He said: “On behalf of  the government and good people of Ekiti State, the Land of Honour, I commiserate with my friend and brother governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, on the peaceful transition of his father, Alhaji Ademola Fashola.”

“I also commiserate with the entire Fashola family and the Lagos State government. I pray Almighty God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Dr Fayemi, in his condolence message, said the late Alhaji Fashola’s death marked a glorious end to a life well spent in the service of Almighty Allah and humanity.

He described the deceased as a devout Muslim, a community leader and a philanthropist who dedicated his life to the good of others and the development of his community.

The Ekiti State governor noted that the late  Fashola, whom he described as a detribalised Nigerian and father to all, lived a fulfilled life and was exemplary in his deeds both in public and in private.

He pointed out that he left worthy legacies of hard work, love, good neighbourliness, generosity and piety for his children and other family members.

According to him, Alhaji Fashola will be remembered for being a disciplinarian and a personality who pursued any cause he believed in.

A great loss —Amosun

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has mourned the death of Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola, the father of the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

Amosun said he was shocked by the news of the death, describing it as a great loss.

In a press release by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, Amosun described Papa Fashola as a model of industry, discipline and integrity.

“He was a dedicated family man and devout Muslim, who trained his children in the way of Allah. It is not surprising that one of his children, Mr Raji Fashola, later rose to become the governor of Lagos, where he has recorded outstanding successes,” the governor said.

Amosun commiserated with the Government and People of Lagos State, family, relatives and friends of Papa Fashola, “especially my brother governor, on the exit of our beloved father, who led an exemplary life.”

He prayed Allah to grant him eternal rest.

NigerianTribune