Nigeria News
Fashola’s Father Buried
The remains of Alhaji Ademola Fashola, the father of the Governor of Lagos State, were this afternoon laid to rest at the Vaults and Gardens Cemetery, Ikoyi, Lagos, southwest Nigeria amidst torrents of tributes. Pa Fashola died on Monday at the age of 80 after a protracted illness..
Prayers were offered for the repose of his soul at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos Island before he was taken to the Vaults and Gardens for burial.
Earlier in the day, the remains of Pa Fashola laid in state at his residence at Ladipo Labinjo Street, Surulere where sympathisers paid their last respects.
•The remains of Pa Fashola arriving at his Surulere home, Lagos this morning for the lying in state
His corpse arrived at his residence from the mortuary in black Merceses Benz SUV at about 11:55am while a lying in state was later held in his honour at Surulere Senior Secondary School.
Among the early callers at his residence were Senator Gbenga Ashafa, Rasak Okoya, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, Subomi Balogun, Surulere Council boss, Tajudeen Ajide, Kayode Opeifa, Joe Igbokwe, Onigbongbo LCDA boss, Babatunde Oke, representatives of Arewa and Ndigbo, Service Chiefs, Commissioners among others
Members of Eko Club who were present at the lying in state, described him as a jolly good fellow and prayed that almighty Allah grant him aljannat firdaus.
At the grave side, the Muslim clerics offered prayers for Pa Fashola’s repose and prayed God to grant him eternal rest before he was lowered to the grave in the presence of the governor, Babatunde Fashola and other siblings.
The burial was also witnessed by prominent Nigerians who came to pay their last respects to the deceased.
Torrents of tributes from Nigerians have continued to pour in for the late Pa Fashola. In his tribute, constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, and several Nigerians joined others in mouring the deceased.
Sagay described the news of Fashola’s father’s death as devastating and commiserated with Governor Babatunde Fashola over the loss.
According to him, “the death of Fashola’s father is emotionally devastating. It is shocking. People will say he died as an old man, but to the immediate family, no one is ever old, they still want him around. I will personally write to the governor to commiserate with him.”
•Gov. Fashola, his mother, Omolara, and his brother at the lying in state.PHOTOS: IDOWU OGUNLEYE
Sir Victor Olaiya, a high life maestro and childhood friend of the late Pa Ademola Fashola, on Monday said he would miss the deceased a lot.
Olaiya, who was among the early callers at the residence of the deceased, told newsmen that he was humorous and loved to make people happy.
“I will miss his jokes and his smile. We were together many years ago when he was at Daily Times. He was nice, humble and kind and it would be difficult not to miss somebody like that,” the music legend said.
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has expressed her shock and sadness over the death of Pa Fashola, noting that the state would have loved to have more of him around.
In a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, Tunde Abatan, she noted that the late Alhaji Fashola was a great supporter and adviser of the government, who was never afraid to express his opinion on all policies of government.
“Papa was always available to offer his advice on all issues relating to the governance and the welfare of the people of Lagos State; he was always frank in his discussion and telling us what he feels we are not doing right or what the people expect from us,” Adefulire was quoted to have said.
Adefulire prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant him a place in Al-Jannah. She also prayed to God to comfort and give the families and friends left behind the strength to bear the loss.
Alhaji Bolaji Fashola, the head of the family, said they were devastated by the news of the death of the octogenarian.
He told newsmen that members of the family were shattered by the death of the deceased.
The family patriarch described the deceased as a kind man who would do everything to satisfy everybody.
He said that he was with late Pa Fashola on Sunday and never knew he would be gone so soon.
“I was with him on Sunday. He was breathing heavily and he said he wanted to sleep and I left for home.
“I was shocked when I got the news today(Monday) that he had died. It is so sad. Everybody is shattered,” the patriarch said.
Also, Afenifere Renewal Group, ARG, in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Famoriyo, said it received with shock the passing of Pa Ademola Fashola, saying “we commiserate with our Governor and all members of his family on the transition of their patriarch to the great land beyond.
“Our solace lies in the comfort that the passing of our father in the Holy Month of Ramadan is a reassurance that he is resting in the bosom of Allah after a life well spent. Pa Fashola’s legacies are clearly evidenced by the leadership, diligence and disciplined character his son is exhibiting across all spheres of governance in Lagos State.”
ARG prayed that God would continue to abide with the Fashola family as “He gives them the strength and faith to bear this huge loss.May Pa Fashola’s soul rest in perfect peace.”
Reacting, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, spokesman of All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State, said Pa Fashola lived a life marked by simplicity and integrity, saying despite being the father of the Lagos State Governor, he was not known to have thrown his weight about to reflect that lofty position.
“He was a principled man who trained and brought up his children through the straight and narrow path. This strict disciplinary background is shown in the life of his son, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who has shown tremendous personal attributes that have helped set a record in hardwork, discipline and accountability in the governance of Lagos these past six years. I pray that the spirit of Pa Fashola find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord,” he said.
The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Gbenga Ashafa commiserated Governor Fashola over the demise of his father, describing the deceased as cool and calm with rare humility and high sense of discipline.
“We all are going to miss Alhaji Ibrahim Ademola Fashola for his fatherly advice at all times. If not for this untimely death, we would have celebrated his 80th birthday next month. Above all, God knows best. I pray that God Almighty gives the entire Fashola family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace,” he said.
A member of the House of Representatives, Yakub Balogun described the death of Fashola’s father as sad and unfortunate, saying the deceased was a great man who spoke the truth at all times, with the fear of God as his watchword. He said Fashola’s father would be greatly missed by all, praying God to grant his soul eternal rest and the family, especially the governor the fortitude to bear the great loss.
Femi Gbajabiamila, a member of the House of Representatives, representing Surulere Federal Constituency area of Lagos at the House, said: “I heard the sad news. I knew the Governor’s father personally because he worked with my mother when she was the chairman of Surulere Local Government.
“He was a wonderful and unassuming man. He will be greatly missed. We, however, must thank God for the life he lived and the son he produced for us in Lagos. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Reacting to the death of the governor’s father, interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described it as shocking, adding that the man passed on at a time his elderly advice was needed.
“It is a very sad loss. He left us at this time we need him most. He was an extremely humble man and never carried himself as the father of the governor,” he said, while praying that God should grant the departed eternal rest while condoling with the governor and other members of the bereaved family.
Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government Administration and Chieftaincy Affairs, Moshood Oshun, described the incident as unfortunate.
“Thank God he left beautiful children among whom is the governor of Lagos state. I condole with the bereaved family and sincerely pray that God should grant him aljana fiddaus,” Oshun, representing Mainland Constituency 2 at the House, said.
Chairman, Lagos Assembly Committee on Education, Science and Technology, Wahab Alawiye-King, said the incident was saddening, adding that “he was like a father to many of us and consistently advised us whenever we met him. In fact, he left at a time we wanted more of his elderly advice.”
The representative of Lagos Island Constituency II prayed that God should give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Another lawmaker and representative of Apapa Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Muyiwa Jimoh, said: “the man lived a fulfilled life, one as a journalist and secondly as the father of a performing governor. My encounter with him was in the holy land; he was a man loaded with ideas.”
Senate Minority Whip, Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon while reacting to the death of the Governor’s father, commiserated with Fashola, urging the governor to take heart and thank God that his father lived a fulfilled life.
“We are all pained by this sudden death but we take delight in the fact that papa lived a fulfilled life of a good father to his children, a good husband to his wife and devoted servant of Allah,” he said while praying God to give the entire Fashola family the fortitude to bear the huge loss.
“No matter how old, it is always painful to lose one’s parent. I really feel for the Faholsa family on this particular incident,” he added.
The Chairman of Surulere Local Government, Tajudeen Ajide, also described the death as a blow to the governor and the state.
Another member of the House of Representatives, James Faleke described the death “as devastating news, especially coming at this time. At this point of our political development, the advice and words of wisdom from Papa could have been invaluable for us. But we take solace that the Senior Fashola lived a fulfilled life.”
A former Senator, Muniru Muse said the news of the Octogenarian’s death was shocking, saying that “we need his advice and words of wisdom at this very crucial time, but who are we to blame God? He has His reason for taking Papa away.”
—Kazeem Ugbodaga, Eromosele Ebhomele & Yisa Jamiu
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Posted in Nigeria News. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: PM News
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The Kano State Government on Saturday said it has transferred 1,098 ‘almajiris’ to different states of the country.
The commissioner for local government, Murtala Garo, disclosed this while presenting a report before the state’s task force on COVID-19 at the government house, Kano.
Almajiris are children who are supposed to be learning Islamic studies while living with their Islamic teachers. Majority of them, however, end up begging on the streets of Northern Nigeria. They constitute a large number of Nigeria’s over 10 million out-of-school children.
Mr Garo said the Kano government transported 419 almajiris to Katsina, 524 to Jigawa and 155 to Kaduna. He said all of them tested negative for coronavirus before leaving the Kano State.
Despite the coronavirus test done in Kano for the almajiris, the Jigawa government earlier said it would quarantine for two weeks all the almajiris that recently arrived from Kano.
Mr Garo said another 100 almajiris scheduled to be taken to Bauchi State also tested negative to COVID-19.
In a remark, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje said the COVID-19 situation in Kano was getting worse. He appealed for a collaborative effort to curtail the spread of the virus in the state.
Mr Ganduje, who commended residents for complying with the lockdown imposed in the state, said the decision was taken to halt the spread of the virus.
Kano State, as of Saturday night, has 77 coronavirus cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
The decision to transfer the Kano almajiris is part of the agreement reached between Northern governors that almajiris in each state be transferred to their states of origin.
However, even before the latest agreement by the governors, the Kano government had been transferring almajiris to other states and neighbouring countries after it banned street begging in the state, most populous in Northern Nigeria.
Despite the transfers, however, no concrete step has been taken to ensure such children do not return to Kano streets as there is freedom of movement across Nigeria although interstate travel was recently banned to check the spread of the coronavirus.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
By Ugochukwu Alaribe
Operatives of the Abia State Vigilante Service, AVS, popularly known as ‘Bakassi Boys’ have arrested 24 market women hidden in a container truck, at Ekwereazu Ngwa, the boundary community between Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
The market women, said to be from Akwa Ibom State, were on their way to Aba, when they were arrested with the truck driver and two of his conductors for violating the lockdown order by the state government.
Driver of the truck, Moses Asuquo, claimed he was going to Aba to purchase stock fish, but decided to assist the market women, because they were stranded.
A vigilante source told Sunday Vanguard that the vehicle was impounded while the market women were sent back to Akwa Ibom State.
Commissioner for Home Land Security, Prince Dan Okoli, who confirmed the incident, said that smuggling of people into the state poses great threat to the state government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID- 19.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
Operatives of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Yaba of the Lagos State police command have arrested one Mrs Nene Steve for allegedly killing her maid, Joy Adole
The maid was allegedly beaten to death by Nene for requesting for her salary at their residence located at 18, Ogundola Street, Bariga area in Lagos.
Narrating the incident, Philips Ejeh, an elder brother to the deceased said that he was sad when they informed him that his sister was beaten to death.
He explained that the deceased was an indigene of Benue State brought to Lagos through an agent and started working with her as a maid in January 2020.
‘’She reported that her boss refused to pay her and anytime she asked for her salary she will start beating her.
She was making an attempt to leave the place but due to the total lockdown she remained there until Sunday when her boss said she caught her stealing noodles and this led to her serious beating and death,’’ Ejeh said.
He called on Lagos State Government and well- meaning people in the country to help them in getting justice for the victim.
The police spokesman, Bala Elkana, stated that the woman and her husband came to Bariga Police Station to a report that their house girl had committed suicide.
Detectives were said to have visited the house and suspected foul play with the position of the rope and bruises all over the body which confirmed that the girl had been tortured to death and the boss decided to hang up the girl to make it look like suicide.
He said: “The police moved on with their investigation and found a lot of sign of violence on her body that she has been tortured before a rope was put on her neck.’’
He added that the police removed the corpse and deposited it in the mortuary for autopsy to further ascertain the cause of the death.
Elkana said the matter has been transferred from Bariga police station to Panti for further investigation while the couple have been arrested and will be charged to court.
Ostensibly alarmed by the latest killings of dozens of soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents, President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned an urgent meeting of Service Chiefs to find ways to stop the trend.
He has also dispatched the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, to the neighbouring Republic of Chad for an urgent meeting with President Idris Deby and his defence counterpart.
Knowledgeable sources said in Abuja on Friday that the president is worried by on the deterioration of security situation on the Nigeria – Chad Border that has led to the recently increased Boko Haram terrorism in the area.
The sources which did not want to be named in Abuja said: “Nigeria has a Chad problem in the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) put together to secure the Lake Chad basin areas and repeal the Boko Haram terrorist attacks against all the countries neighbouring the Lake.”
The sources noted that Chad is believed to be having their own internal security challenges and this has reportedly led to their pulling away their own troops manning their own border around Lake Chad, saying: “That lacuna is being exploited by the Boko Haram terrorists, who go in and out of Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon to launch terrorist acts. This is a clear illustration of the fact that terrorism is beyond national borders.”
When contacted, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed that the Defence Minister is going to Chad but said he is unaware of the purpose.
Meanwhile, the military authorities are said to be in the process of identifying the families of the latest victims with a view to making contact with them.
Credible sources revealed that it is the reason the president is yet to make any pronouncement on the matter.
“The President has called an urgent meeting with the Service Chiefs, as well as the fact that families of the latest victims of the Boko Haram are being identified and contacts made before a government pronouncement on the tragic attacks. This, it is understood, is the reason for the silence of the government over the incident,” the source said.
Sourced From: Tribune
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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