Nigeria: Aregbesola, Oyinlola Mourn Tinubu's Mother

Osogbo — Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola and his predecessor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola yesterday mourned the death of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Hammed Tinubu.

While Aregbesola described the death of Tinubu's mother as a great loss, Oyinlola said the demise of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji is a personal loss to him.

According to Aregbesola who spoke through his Director of the Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said the death of the Tinubu matriarch leaves a big vacuum both in political and commercial sector of not only Lagos State but Nigeria at large.

Aregbesola said Madam Mogaji led a life of substance worthy of emulation. "Mama Abibat Mogaji was a mother in a million. We commiserate with her children, particularly Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others on the great loss.

"We commiserate with the Oba of Lagos, HRH Rilwan Akiolu, the Mogaji Family, the people of Lagos, particularly Alhaji Femi Okunnu; ACN; the government of Lagos, market men and women in Nigeria and Lagos in particular.

"We pray that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss and we pray God grants her Aljana Firdaus," Aregbesola said. He also extended the condolence of the government and people of Osun to the immediate and extended families of Tinubu and other well-wishers.

In his words, former governor Oyinlola, who said the late Alhaja Mogaji's death has made Nigeria poorer in quality counsel, noted the tremendous support the deceased gave him and other successive governors of Lagos state.

The former governor "between 1994 and 1996 when I was the military administrator of Lagos state, the late Alhaja Mogaji as the head of market men and women was virtually a mother to me. Her counsel and support in those turbulent political days were very invaluable.

"Even after my exit from the Lagos state Government House, the late Alhaja maintained the bond so much so that she remained a mother to me till the very end," Prince Oyinlola said.

He described the deceased as a woman of strong character, a principled leader and a deeply religious person. "I pray that God Almighty will grant her soul eternal peace and give those he left behind the courage to bear the loss," Oyinlola stated.