…He left when the country needed him – President Buhari
…He had lung surgery – NGF Chairman
…He was a political stabilizer – Sanwo-olu
…He left a blueprint for our administration – Makinde
…He redefined governance – Oyetola
…We lost a star – Fayemi
Reactions have continued to pour in following the death of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Thursday.
The Senator and former Governor of Oyo State had been hospitalized in Lagos, early this month, reportedly, due to complications from COVID-19.
Last week, he was rumoured dead, but his family and aide denied it. The report said he slipped into a coma.
President Buhari in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adeshina, recalled the contributions of the late Senator to Oyo State, the Nation and the All Progressives Congress (APC). He also commiserated with the family of the deceased.
“As the party chieftain bows out, President Buhari believes he left the world at a crucial moment when the party and the country needed his counsels to heal, and grow, noting that his absence will be surely felt by all associated, particularly in the APC,” the statement partly read.
Similarly, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) condoled with the family of the late Senator Ajimobi. The Chairman of the Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, in a statement, said “It is important to note here that I have personally followed development since news of his lung surgery broke and when he showed signs of recovery, I was happy.
The NGF Chairman said he had hoped that the Senator would recover. He added that the late Ajimobi was a pillar of support who contributed to the Forum’s debates and served as a counsellor to governors.
“For a man of 70, he was not just ebullient but was lively while being fatherly. There was never a dull moment with the late former Governor,” the NGF said.
In the late Senator’s State, Oyo, the government has directed that flags be flown at half-mast on Friday. Governor Seyi Makinde said Ajimobi would be “remembered for leaving a blueprint for some of the activities that our administration is now undertaking.”
Also, Governor Sanwo-Olu of lagos State, in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said that Ajimobi’s death had opened a deep sore in the hearts of Nigerians who needed him as a ‘rallying point and a political stabilizer’.
To the late Senator’s family, Mr Sanwo-Olu said “the death of loved ones is usually one of the most painful episodes in peoples’ lives but we must realize that death is inevitable. We all will die someday. Therefore, we must gather enough strength to carry on.”
On his part, the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, through his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, described the late Senator as a man of history. He said Ajimobi’s term as a Governor was ‘a golden era’.
“We have lost a star. A man of honour and a statesman. But we are consoled that Governor Ajimobi lived a good life, made his mark in his chosen fields, lifted many, and left a good name and legacies of honour and industry. We shall surely miss him,” Mr. Fayemi affirmed.
In Osun, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola through his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, said he was shocked and saddened by the demise of Ajimobi. He said the late Ajimobi as a governor, ‘redefined governance’ in Oyo.
“Senator Ajimobi was also a true progressive and loyal party man. He was committed to the ideals of the APC and will be sorely missed by the party,” Oyetola said.
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