The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today paid a condolence visit to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola over the loss of his father, Alhaji Ibrahim Bayo Ademola Fashola.
They were led by acting national Secretary, Dr. Remi Akitoye. Others are Aduke Maina, State Chairman of the party, Captain Shelle (rtd), Chief Ola Apena, Deputy State Chairman, Mrs. Bukky Ajomo, Mr. Ebitare Otrofanowei, representing South South, Mrs. Agnes Igbanoi and Alhaji Bode Oyedele.
While receiving the visitors, Fashola implored those who knew his father to continue to propagate the ideals that his life history represents.
He called on Nigeria to be exemplary men of virtues, starting from the family to the community. “They are translated to the community and from the community they spread into much more formal government structures like states, local governments, and political parties and in that way we can express a stronger side of who we are as Nigerians”.
Fashola thanked the delegation for the courtesy of the visit and expressed gratitude to the PDP National Chairman for the honour he accorded to the memory of the late Alhaji Fashola through the Committee.
“On behalf of the Fashola family, we thank you very much and we thank Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and those of you who have also taken the responsibility to personally bear the condolence message. It is a great honour for our father and our family and on their behalf I express gratitude to you”.
He prayed that the Almighty God would honour members of the delegation both collectively and individually in the way they had honoured the memory of his father.
Speaking earlier, leader of the delegation, Akitoye said the committee was sent by the national Chairman of the Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, whom he said was very a close friend to late Alhaji Fashola, to express his deep condolence to the Governor and the Fashola Family over the passage.
Extolling the virtues of the late Alhaji Fashola, the Acting National Secretary noted that the deceased was a strict disciplinarian and also a lover of children recalling how the late octogenarian used to rebuke them as children if he caught them misbehaving adding that immediately after; he would offer them sweets.
“I benefited from his disciplinary attitude because I remember in those days we were children in school, he would call us to order and scold us when we misbehaved. But he would soon after call us back and offer us sweets. I learnt from it that he rebuked us because he loved us”, Akitoye said.
He prayed, on behalf of the PDP National Chairman, for the repose of the soul of the departed and that the Almighty Allah would grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss.