Jonathan visits Fashola over father's death
President Goodluck Jonathan visited the Lagos State Babatunde Fashola to commiserate with him over the death of his father, Pa. Ademola.
, President Jonathan said said he was condoling the governor on behalf himself and entire people of Nigeria.
He said, : 'Immediately I heard the news that your father has passed on, I called your phone and I was told that you were airborne coming back from Saudi Arabia where you had gone for Umrah, the Muslim lesser hajj.
'It is a sad event for you to have lost your father at this point. But we must also thank God for the life that he had lived. But we were indeed happy that our father though he has left us at a very painful moment, but he has also lived a fulfilled life.
'He has lived to maturity. But most especially, he has been able to replace himself tenfold before departing. You (Fashola) and your siblings are still with us. So many people didn't have the opportunity of replacing themselves before departing.' The president prayed that the Almighty Allah that brought him and took him at this time, would also provide for the family and cushion the pains that his death might have caused.
'On behalf of myself and the good people of Nigeria, we express our condolences to the Governor of Lagos state, his wife, your siblings, government and the good people of Lagos state. I pray that God will give you the fortitude to bear the lost,' Jonathan said.
Responding on behalf of the Fasholas, Governor Fashola commended the president and his entourage for the visit.
He said: 'I want to thank the President for calling me on the day my father died. I want to also thank the President for the condolence letter he sent and for sending the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, to represent you at the funeral ceremony.
'As if that wasn't enough, you had deemed it fit to also come in person to pay a condolence visit. I understand perhaps more than many, the pressure on time and I also understand how many families suffer this kind of bereavement.
'We feel truly honored that we are one of the few who will receive the privilege for our father, your personal presence and the member of your entourage.' Jonathan was accompanied in the visit by Ministers of Justice, Petroleum, Information, Sports,Trade and Investment, Mohammed Adoke, Diezani Allison Madueke, Labaran Maku, Bolaji Abdulahi and Olusegun Aganga respectively.