Shekinat Abubakar
The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji has mourned the passing of former President Muhammad Buhari and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, who reigned for 65 years.
This was contained in a statement signed and made available to journalists by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode.
It reads, “Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed condolences on the passing of immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammodu Buhari.
“The late Buhari, 82, who led the country at different times as a military Head of State and a democratically elected President, died in London on Sunday, after a brief illness.
“We have lost a great leader. This is indeed a monumental loss to Nigeria in particular and Africa as a whole.
“According to Governor Oyebanji, the late Buhari did not only serve the country meritoriously right from his youthful days as a military officer, he lived an exemplary life of selfless service to the nation and led the nation at two different periods- as a military head of state and two terms President and Commander-in-Chief, where he put in his very best.
“He described the former President as a patriot, a man of integrity and a statesman, who earned his place in history as an anti-corruption champion, and through his sheer commitment to the oneness of the country as well as his dogged pursuit of her socio-economic development.
“The late President Buhari, according to Governor Oyebanji, had, at different period in his life, made some sacrifices towards the greatness of the country. This, he said had etched his name in gold.
“The Governor expressed condolences to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the wife, children and family of the late Buhari; the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Daura, Katsina State as well as Nigerians in general on the death of the late President, who was nicknamed “Mai Gaskiya” by virtue of his high level of integrity.
“The Ekiti State Governor urged the children of the late President to be consoled by the fact their father lived a good and impactful life and left behind a good name and legacies of integrity and service in his decades of nation building efforts.
“On behalf of my family, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, Land of Honour, we commiserate with Our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the wife, children and family of the late President Buhari, the leadership of our party, APC and Nigerians as a whole on the passing of the immediate past President. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest in aljanah.
“The late Awujale oozed royalty, class, colour, dignity and honour in his lifetime but yet remained humble in his day-to-day royal duties to the benefit of his subjects.
“The late Oba Adetona left legacies of service, dedication, sacrifice, humility, preservation of culture and tradition of his people whom he ruled for 65 years.
“The late Oba Adetona was a good example of how a leader can galvanize his people for overall community development to complement government’s support.
“The late Ijebu monarch in his lifetime offered wise counsel to those in authority on the need to add value to governance and serve humanity with compassion.
“I convey the condolences of the Government and people of Ekiti State to the family of the late Awujale, the Government of Ogun State and the people of Ijebu over the passing of the highly revered Oba Adetona. May God grant Kabiyesi’s eternal rest and comfort his family”.
