Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), at the weekend paid a condolence visit to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the death of his mother, Alhaja Abibatu Magaji.
Alhaja Mogaji died last week in her Lagos residence. Fashola described the late Iyaloja-General of Nigeria Market Men and Women as a tower of strength for all who had the privilege to be close to her.
Speaking to journalists after the visit at the Ikoyi residence of the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Fashola said, Mama Mogaji was also faithful and just to all who sought to make Lagos their home.
“All of us who have had the privilege of Mama being part of our life understand the different ways she has touched us. She’s a mother to all of us biological and non-biological. She was a tower of strength. She was faithful to all who sought to be part of the Lagos larger family”, the Governor said.
Describing the effect of the news of her death on him, the governor, who just was just back from Brazil, declared “It was a big blow in the sense that I had just left Lagos and landing in Brazil only to put my phone down, it was a bombshell I received that four hours after I left Lagos she had passed on”.
He added, “She loved ceaselessly, she gave selflessly and she was religiously loyal to whatever she was convinced about. She lived a very good life, a life of many lessons for those who wish to learn those lessons, a life of public service without office, a life of compassion to people, a life I would like to capture in a tribute if I find time to write”.
On how best to immortalise her, Fashola said, “I think the greatest way Mama will remain immortalised will be in our hearts, how much of her selflessness we can emulate, how much of her compassion for other people’s children we can seek to emulate, how much courage we can show in seemingly lost causes which had no direct benefit to us and pursue them in a single-minded manner”.
Praying for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased, the Governor declared, “One still stand fully to say her prayers were ultimately answered because in all our conversations, she kept on insisting that she was going to live long but that we were going to survive her. So in that sense her prayers have been answered”.
Also at the residence of Asiwaju Tinubu to pay condolence visit was a delegation from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which delivered a letter of condolence to Asiwaju Tinubu signed by the National Executive Council of the party.
The letter, read by the CPC National Secretary and leader of the delegation, Buba Galadima before many visitors to the Tinubu residence, read in part, “This is a letter of condolence over the death of our mother, grandmother and leader, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji (CFR), President of the Lagos Market Women Association.
“Mama was a colossus in her own drive, an astute business woman, community leader, an organizer who lived a life of humility, honesty and sacrifice unparalleled in our society. Mama has lived a fulfilled life whose reward only Allah can quantify”
Also there during the visit were National Chairman of ACN Chief Bisi Akande, Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Senator Oluremi Tinubu among other top government functionaries.
