Prayers were offered for the repose
of his soul at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos Island before he was taken to
the Vaults and Gardens for burial.
Earlier in the day, the remains of
Pa Fashola laid in state at his residence at Ladipo Labinjo Street, Surulere
where sympathisers paid their last respects. His corpse arrived at his residence
from the mortuary in black Merceses Benz SUV at about 11:55am while a lying in
state was later held in his honour at Surulere Senior Secondary School.
Among the early callers at his
residence were Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Rasak Okoya, Chief Molade
Okoya-Thomas, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, Subomi Balogun, Surulere Council boss,
Tajudeen Ajide, Kayode Opeifa, Joe Igbokwe, Onigbongbo LCDA boss, Babatunde
Oke, representatives of Arewa and Ndigbo, Service Chiefs, Commissioners among
others.
Members of Eko Club who were present
at the lying in state, described him as a jolly good fellow and prayed that
almighty Allah grant him aljannat firdaus.
At the grave side, the Muslim
clerics offered prayers for Pa Fashola’s repose and prayed God to grant him
eternal rest before he was lowered to the grave in the presence of the
governor, Babatunde Fashola and other siblings.
The burial was also witnessed by
prominent Nigerians who came to pay their last respects to the deceased.
Torrents of tributes from Nigerians
have continued to pour in for the late Pa Fashola. In his tribute,
constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, and
several Nigerians joined others in mouring the deceased.
Sagay described the news of
Fashola’s father’s death as devastating and commiserated with Governor
Babatunde Fashola over the loss.
According to him, “the death of
Fashola’s father is emotionally devastating. It is shocking. People will say he
died as an old man, but to the immediate family, no one is ever old, they still
want him around. I will personally write to the governor to commiserate with
him.”
Sir Victor Olaiya, a high life
maestro and childhood friend of the late Pa Ademola Fashola, on Monday said he
would miss the deceased a lot.
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.
Lagos State Deputy Governor,
Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has expressed her shock and sadness over the death of
Pa Fashola, noting that the state would have loved to have more of him around.
In a statement signed by the Special
Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Tunde Abatan, she noted that the
late Alhaji Fashola was a great supporter and adviser of the government, who
was never afraid to express his opinion on all policies of government.
“Papa was always available to offer
his advice on all issues relating to the governance and the welfare of the
people of Lagos State; he was always frank in his discussion and telling us
what he feels we are not doing right or what the people expect from us,”
Adefulire was quoted to have said.
Adefulire prayed to the Almighty
Allah to grant him a place in Al-Jannah. She also prayed to God to
comfort and give the families and friends left behind the strength to bear the
loss.
Alhaji Bolaji Fashola, the head of
the family, said they were devastated by the news of the death of the
octogenarian.
He told newsmen that members of the
family were shattered by the death of the deceased.
The family patriarch described the
deceased as a kind man who would do everything to satisfy everybody.
He said that he was with late Pa
Fashola on Sunday and never knew he would be gone so soon.
“I was with him on Sunday. He was
breathing heavily and he said he wanted to sleep and I left for home.
“I was shocked when I got the news
today(Monday) that he had died. It is so sad. Everybody is shattered,” the
patriarch said.
Also, Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG,
in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, said it
received with shock the passing of Pa Ademola Fashola, saying “we commiserate
with our Governor and all members of his family on the transition of their
patriarch to the great land beyond.
“Our solace lies in the comfort that
the passing of our father in the Holy Month of Ramadan is a reassurance that he
is resting in the bosom of Allah after a life well spent. Pa Fashola’s legacies
are clearly evidenced by the leadership, diligence and disciplined character
his son is exhibiting across all spheres of governance in Lagos State.”
ARG prayed that God would continue
to abide with the Fashola family as “He gives them the strength and faith to
bear this huge loss.May Pa Fashola’s soul rest in perfect peace.”
Reacting, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, spokesman
of All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State, said Pa Fashola lived a life
marked by simplicity and integrity, saying despite being the father of the
Lagos State Governor, he was not known to have thrown his weight about to
reflect that lofty position.
“He was a principled man who trained
and brought up his children through the straight and narrow path. This strict
disciplinary background is shown in the life of his son, Babatunde Raji
Fashola, who has shown tremendous personal attributes that have helped set a
record in hardwork, discipline and accountability in the governance of Lagos
these past six years. I pray that the spirit of Pa Fashola find eternal rest in
the bosom of the Lord,” he said.
The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee
on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa commiserated
Governor Fashola over the demise of his father, describing the deceased as cool
and calm with rare humility and high sense of discipline.
“We all are going to miss Alhaji
Ibrahim Ademola Fashola for his fatherly advice at all times. If not for this
untimely death, we would have celebrated his 80th birthday next month. Above
all, God knows best. I pray that God Almighty gives the entire Fashola family
the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May his gentle soul rest in perfect
peace,” he said.
A member of the House of
Representatives, Yakub Balogun described the death of Fashola’s father as sad
and unfortunate, saying the deceased was a great man who spoke the truth at all
times, with the fear of God as his watchword. He said Fashola’s father would be
greatly missed by all, praying God to grant his soul eternal rest and the
family, especially the governor the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Femi Gbajabiamila, a member of the
House of Representatives, representing Surulere Federal Constituency area of
Lagos at the House, said: “I heard the sad news. I knew the Governor’s father
personally because he worked with my mother when she was the chairman of
Surulere Local Government.
“He was a wonderful and unassuming
man. He will be greatly missed. We, however, must thank God for the life he
lived and the son he produced for us in Lagos. May his soul rest in perfect
peace.”
Reacting to the death of the
governor’s father, interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive
Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described it as shocking, adding that the
man passed on at a time his elderly advice was needed.
“It is a very sad loss. He left us
at this time we need him most. He was an extremely humble man and never carried
himself as the father of the governor,” he said, while praying that God should
grant the departed eternal rest while condoling with the governor and other
members of the bereaved family.
Chairman of the Lagos State House of
Assembly Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs,
Moshood Oshun, described the incident as unfortunate.
“Thank God he left beautiful
children among whom is the governor of Lagos state. I condole with the bereaved
family and sincerely pray that God should grant him aljana fiddaus,” Oshun,
representing Mainland Constituency 2 at the House, said.
Chairman, Lagos Assembly Committee
on Education, Science and Technology, Wahab Alawiye-King, said the incident was
saddening, adding that “he was like a father to many of us and consistently
advised us whenever we met him. In fact, he left at a time we wanted more of
his elderly advice.”
Gov. Fashola, his mother, Omolara,
and his brother at the lying in state
The representative of Lagos Island
Constituency II prayed that God should give the family the fortitude to bear
the loss.
Another lawmaker and representative
of Apapa Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Muyiwa Jimoh,
said: “the man lived a fulfilled life, one as a journalist and secondly as the
father of a performing governor. My encounter with him was in the holy land; he
was a man loaded with ideas.”
Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu
Olanrewaju Solomon while reacting to the death of the Governor’s father,
commiserated with Fashola, urging the governor to take heart and thank God that
his father lived a fulfilled life.
“We are all pained by this sudden
death but we take delight in the fact that papa lived a fulfilled life of a
good father to his children, a good husband to his wife and devoted servant of
Allah,” he said while praying God to give the entire Fashola family the
fortitude to bear the huge loss.
“No matter how old, it is always
painful to lose one’s parent. I really feel for the Faholsa family on this
particular incident,” he added.
The Chairman of Surulere Local
Government, Tajudeen Ajide, also described the death as a blow to the governor
and the state. Another member of the House of
Representatives, James Faleke described the death “as devastating news,
especially coming at this time. At this point of our political development, the
advice and words of wisdom from Papa could have been invaluable for us. But we
take solace that the Senior Fashola lived a fulfilled life.”
A former Senator, Muniru Muse said
the news of the Octogenarian’s death was shocking, saying that “we need his
advice and words of wisdom at this very crucial time, but who are we to blame
God? He has His reason for taking Papa away.”
