Lagos stands still as Fashola buries dad

From OLUWOLE FAROTIMI
Lagos State literally stood still yesterday as the state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola buried his father amid funfare. The remains of Pa Ademola Fashola was conveyed in a wine Mercedes Benz R 350 from his residence, No 31, Ladipo Labinjo Street in Surulere to the Lagos Central Mosque where Muslim prayer was offered for the repose of his soul.
Alhaji Akinola Garba, Chief Imam of Lagos Central Mosque, who called on Nigerians to be God fearing and have love for their fellow men, led the prayers.
Pa Fashola was laid to rest at the famous Vaults and Gardens, located in Ikoyi area of Lagos at 4 pm.
The governor, who donned a white Kaftan, performed the dust-to-dust rite with other members of the family.
Governor Fashola, who spoke after the internment, said his father lived a fulfilled life, saying he would be missed for his friendship and kindness.
“I will like to say thank you very much to everyone who has rallied round the family from yesterday even before I came back from Saudi Arabia.
“I thank all Nigerians from Mr. President who called persistently until he got to me. He sent his representative here today and that is the Minister of Sports. My brother governors, Imams, everybody, I thank you very much. Our gratitude is deep and immense and we cannot fully express it.
“As for my father, for all of us his children, first and foremost, he was our best friend. So, that is what we would miss really. He was a loving friend who allowed us to be the best we could be. He guided us and encouraged us to succeed.
“I think, if there is any person who did not have any problem, it was my father. He just got on with life; he did not recriminate. In every position he found himself, good, comfortable, difficult, painful, he just got on. I learnt many things from him.
“ I hope I can be as rounded in integrity as he was. He was humble in his attitude to life, humble in life. He died in the month of Ramadan, he died in the Night of Majesty,” Fashola said.
The governor said his father was a contented man who lived a life free of worries, adding that the family was glad he died in the holy month of Ramadan and prayed to God to grant him peaceful repose.
Dignitaries that witnessed the burial ceremony included the Sports Minister, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, who represented the president; Governors Kayode Fayemi and Ibikunle Amosun as well as former governor of Cross Rivers State, Mr. Donald Duke, the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Access Bank Managing Director, Aigboje Aig-Imaukuede; Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye and Mrs. Laoye Tomori, Osun State deputy governor.
Others were business magnate, Molade Okoya-Thomas, former Lagos State governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and former head of the Interim Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.