Ganduje, Oyo, Lagos Deputies, others bid Ajimobi farewell

Kano Governor Umar Ganduje; his Ekiti State counterpart Kayode Fayemi; Oyo Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan; his Lagos State counterpart Obafemi Hamzat and Lagos Speaker Mudashiru Obasa were among dignitaries that paid last respects to former Oyo Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Sunday.

Ajimobi died of COVID-19 complications at a private hospital in Lagos on Thursday.

He was buried privately in his Oluyole, Ibadan residence amid sobs by children and relations.

A public prayer session later held at the Abiola Ajimobi Mosque, Oke-Ado where renowned Islamic preacher Alh. Muyideen Bello led other priests to give a brief sermon.

He said: “Ajimobi lived well. He also promoted Islam. In fact, I can pray to God to help all of the living to also live well like him.

“At the inception of his governorship position, we had an argument over the mosque located behind his office. We agreed that the government does not usually fulfill its promises on mosques.

“Then he said he wished to build a mosque. Thank God we are in that mosque which he built today.”

Bello said Ajimobi’s exploits and death already presented a lengthy sermon for the living.

The cleric recalled one of his last interactions with Ajimobi when he invited him to chair an Islamic lecture in his capacity as Abiola Ajimobi, not a politician or former governor.

“When I asked him to address the audience that day, what he said was instructive. He said he desired a long life because his father died shortly before age 70.

“He added that though long life is desirable, once one is blessed with the ability to achieve one’s dreams in life, it is a thing of joy. He expressed his desire to live till age 90.

“This death that every human runs away from, a day is coming when we shall all encounter it where we can not escape. What are we going to be remembered for?”

At the prayer session were Ganduje, Olaniyan, Hamzat, Obasa, Ajimobi’s deputy Chief Moses Adeyemo, Chief Bayo Adelabu, and Sen. Teslim Folarin.

They were joined by Ajimobi’s son and some relations.