NAN-H-78
Aborishade
By Bolaji Buhari
Lagos, April 27, 2017(NAN) A Former Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Ghali Na`Abba on Thursday, said Nigeria had lost a great patriot and politician with the demise of former Minister of Aviation, Prof. Babalola Aborishade.
Na`Abba said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria,(NAN) in Lagos while reacting to the death of the former minister.
He also described the deceased as a committed fellow who did his best for the country.
The former speaker said that he maintained good personal relationship with Aborishade when the relationship between the executive and the legislature was not that cordial.
“Nigeria has lost a great patriot and politician. He was a great member of the People`s Democratic Party (PDP),the same party I belonged as Speaker and he did his best.
“He was such a good fellow who will be missed by all of us,’’ he said.
Na`Abba condoled with members of the deceased`s family and the people of Ekiti State for the loss and prayed God to forgive the deceased his sins and grant his soul peaceful repose.
Also, a former Minister of Transportation and Chieftain of the PDP, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, said he was devastated by the news of Aborishade`s death.
Babatope told NAN that the deceased did not only belong to the same party with him, but was also a personal friend and confidant of many years.
The former minister, who said his friendship with the deceased blossomed during his early school years in Ekiti State, described Aborishade as an accomplished academic and a great party man.
“He was such an intelligent man who made impart anywhere he went. The news of his death was particularly sad to me because he was my personal friend of many years
“His days in the party were eventful, he was versed in the affairs of the party, he knew about party organisation and was an asset to PDP.
` I commiserate with the people of Ekiti State and his family members for the painful loss and I pray God to give him eternal rest’’ he said.
Also, a former governor of Ogun State, Mr Gbenga Daniel, said the death of Aborishade came to him as a rude shock.
Daniel, however, said that his consolation was that the deceased lived a good life and made a great impart while he was minister.
Daniel also described the deceased as a focused politician who did a lot to keep the PDP family together.
“We are sad he is gone, but he has left his name in the sand of time with his achievements.
‘’He lived a very good life and he will no doubt be missed by all of us.
“May his soul rest in peace and may almighty God grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,’’ he said.
In his reaction, a former Minister of Information and Communication, Mr John Odey, said the exit of Aborishade was painful and unfortunate.
He said that the little interaction he had with the deceased, as a national officer of the PDP, revealed Aborishade was a great party man and a lover of the country.
Odey also described the deceased as a diligent man who served the country well and did his best to make positive changes in the aviation sector, as a minister.
“The news of his death is shocking and unfortunate, particularly for me because we worked for the same government.
“He was such a diligent man who believed so much in his convictions and a great administrator who did so well as Minister of Aviation.
“`This is a great loss; we will miss him but we can only pray for the peaceful repose of his soul,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Aborishade died on Wednesday in London at 71, after a heart and lung related illness.
He was a Minister of Aviation during the administration of Cheif Olusegun Obasanjo, Minister of State for Power and Steel, Minister of Education.
Aborishade was also Minister of Tourism and Culture before the expiration of the administration in 2007.(NAN)
BHB/AOS/DUA
Edited by Bayo Sekoni/Dada Ahmed