Two former Heads of State, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalam Abubakar today paid condolence visit to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola over the demise of his father , Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.
The two generals visited the governor at his residence in Marina. Speaking during the visit, Abdulsalam Abubakar (rtd) emphasised the need for peace and tranquillity in the country.
“I keep saying that without peace there wouldn’t be any country, without peace, there wouldn’t be people and without peace there wouldn’t be means of livelihood”.
Abubakar commended the governor for transforming the state, stressing that he is building not only for Lagos State but for the country.
The general prayed for the governor to assume greater responsibilities in the country.
Also speaking, General Ibrahim Babangida prayed to God to give the immediate family the courage to bear the loss, adding that it is gratifying that Papa left behind an important gift in Governor Raji Fashola.
“In Islam, we do pray for long life but long life does not mean living for 100 years or 500 years. We are gratified that Papa left and he left one important gift that is Governor Raji Fashola. So we are grateful that God has spared his life to see a governor that everybody respects in this country and I also pray that one of your children will also take the footsteps you have taken after Papa”.
In his response, Governor Fashola thanked both leaders for the visit, saying with the visit they have not only honoured his late father, but also honoured his family and prayed that honour will never depart from their households.
Fashola also lent his voice to the appeal for peace in the country by both leaders, saying he is doing so because his late father was a man of peace, “Nothing for him was forever worth any conflict, if things became too difficult, he simply moved on.”
‘’And I hope that the leadership that you both provide for this country will continue to endure and that through that leadership, much more enduring peace would spread around this country and that the promise of this country will come to pass in your lifetime,’’, he said.
