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| Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji |
As Jakande, George, others pay tributes to Dosunmu
By Shola Oyeyipo
President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the Senate President,
David Mark and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal,
were among eminent Nigerians who paid glowing tributes to the Iyaloja-General
of Nigeria, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of the former Lagos State governor,
Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was laid
to rest Sunday.
Also in Lagos yesterday, former Nigerian Ambassador to
Malaysia, Senator Wahab Dosunmu, was laid to rest. The two great citizens had
contributed to the growth and development of the state as well as the nation at
different times.
While Mogaji died on Saturday evening at the age of 96,
Dosunmu died on June 9 at the age of 74 in the United States of America where
he had gone for medical treatment.
In commiserating with the national leader of the Action
Congress of Nigeria (ACN),
Tinubu and his family on the death of their famed matriarch,
Mogaji, President Jonathan noted that
the highly revered and respected market leader, businesswoman, political
activist and philanthropist would be long remembered and honoured in Lagos and
across the country for her indefatigable championship of the cause of market
women and men.
He said the market leader was her persistent self, well into
old age, in defending the interests of the poor and underprivileged in society.
The president prayed
God to grant Abibat a well
deserved rest from her earthly labours.
On his part, Senator Mark
said the late Mogaji was a great business woman and leader whose
philanthropic gesture cut across ethnic
and religious boundaries adding that she would be remembered for her industry
and leadership qualities.
"She had dignity and honour in administration and
purposeful management in commerce and industry in Lagos and environs. We shall
miss her wise counsel. We shall miss her care and sense of humour," Mark
said.
However, beyond the grief of losing them, it was a
celebration of life yesterday as prominent Nigerians and politicians across
political party divide and regions congregated at the Lagos Television ground,
Agindingbi, Ikeja, to pay their last respects to Mogaji while those at
Dosunmu’s funeral eulogised his virtues.
Mogaji was buried at Ikoyi cemetery, Lagos and immediately
followed by a Muslim prayer held for her at the LTV 8 Blue Roof Hall. While
that was going on, the remains of Dosumu were being committed to mother earth
at his Ajah country home.
However, prominent among
those who witnessed Mogaji’s burial were the Speaker, House of
Representative, Tambuwal; Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abiola Ajimobi
(Oyo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun),
Senator Ganiyu Solomon, former Ogun State governor, Chief Segun Osoba; Tinubu’s
wife, Senator Remi.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) was
however absent at the burial ceremony as he was said to be out of the country.
Others present at the burial were the Speaker, Lagos State
House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Kuforiji, President, Newspapers Proprietors'
Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and Chairman, Editor-in-Chief, THISDAY
Newspapers, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Chief Tom Ikimi, Imams and prominent market
leaders from across the South states among other dignitaries.
As a mark of respect for the deceased, markets in Lagos
State were shutdown as her burial was characterised by pomp and celebration.
Typically, everyone present at Mogaji’s burial euglogised
her virtues and dwelt particularly on her motherly love and her roles in
coordinating her constituency in collective interest.
The Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji Gaba Ibraheem Akinola,
during his homily, emphasised that death was an inevitable end for all and
described the late Mogaji as an exemplary person who lived a good life worth
emulating.
He pleaded that her legacies, especially her contributions
to Islam must not be abandoned, adding that in her lifetime, she was committed
to investing in other people’s lives, a move he said, would make her memory
lingers on.
Aregbesola who gave the vote of thanks, recounted how
motherly the late Mogaji was and noted that she had left a vacuum behind.
In like manner, those who converged at Dosunmu’s burial to
pay their last respects to him recalled different instances when he played
various roles in the development of the state and Nigeria in general.
Dosunmu was a former Minister of Science and Technology,
Housing and Environment, former Nigeria's Ambassador to Malaysia and lately,
Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
His remains arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 6.30 a.m. aboard a Virgin
Atlantic Airlines flight and were received by a huge crowd of supporters, party
loyalists, family and friends.
Immediately, his corpse was taken to Eko Club, Surulere and
later, Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan, for lying-in-state where members of the club
paid their last respects to the astute politician and a reputable member of the
National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
The Chairman, Yoruba Tennis Club, Mr. Seyi Joseph, described Dosunmu as a
"thorough-bred politician who was always calm and amiable."
Former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George,
who was also present said the late Dosunmu was a 'frontline Lagosian and a
pacesetter who gave a sense of belonging to the people beyond political party
divide. "He will be missed for his forthrightness and dedication to worthy
causes."
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha,
eulogised both Mogaji and Dosunmu.
The first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef
Jakande, recounted memories of late Dosunmu and said he worked with him in
unity for the benefit of the people of the state when he was the Minister of
Housing and Environment.
"As a governor during Dosunmu's tenure as Housing
Minister, he provided land to facilitate our low cost housing projects in the
state," Jakande said.
On his part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South-west
National Chairman, Chief Ishola Filani, said Dosunmu made remarkable
contributions to the growth of the party in the South-west, adding: "It’s
so sad that he died when he was needed most."
Head of the Dosunmu family, Mr. Morrof Dosunmu, said his
late brother was a wonderful person who touched the lives of all the family members.
"We will miss him greatly," he added.
Other prominent personalities who paid their last respects
to Dosumu were Chairman, Eleganza Group of Companies, Chief Rasaq Okoya; former
Minister of State for Defence, Chief Demola Seriki; former Minister of Works,
Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe; Senator Khairat Gwadabe, Senator Femi Lanlehin,
Senator Iyabo Anishulowo and the Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, Captain Tunji
Shelle among others.
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