The leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has paid tribute to the late Abiola Ajimobi, immediate past governor of Oyo state, who passed on, Thursday, 25th June 2020.
Bola Tinubu, in his tribute, wrote that Ajimobi was his “dedicated friend, brother and ally,” as he noted that the APC as a political party, has lost “one of its leading lights,” and Nigeria as a country, has lost “an outstanding statesman and one of its most able politicians.”
Describing the pain, Bola Tinubu said the pain felt was beyond what words could describe as the energy, activism and commitment of the late Ajimobi to Nigeria and its people “shall always be with us”.
Bola Tinubu disclosed that Ajimobi was the best and most productive governor Oyo State has ever had.
He said, “The numerous infrastructural and public works projects he initiated literally changed the face of Oyo for the better.
“His legacy as a governor will be an enduring and positive one. The first governor to serve two consecutive terms in Oyo, he broke a political jinx that many said could not be broken.”
While appreciating the people of Oyo for being wise to have allowed Ajimobi to serve for eight years, he claimed to always remember and hold dear the vital contributions Ajimobi made to the establishment of APC.
He said, “he worked with great commitment and sagacity to enshrine progressive governance in the party, Oyo and Nigeria itself.
“His recent emergence as Deputy National Chairman of our party was in affirmation of his many years of service and devotion to the pursuit of democratic governance. The history of the APC cannot be squarely written without him.”
Other part of the tribute read:
“Ajimobi was my friend and brother. He was honest and forthright. He had the interest of the people at heart. We shared a common progressive vision for our country and how to bring prosperity, justice and hope to its people.
“I had hoped that we could achieve more together but the ultimate wisdom and all our fates rest in the hands of Almighty Allah who knows best.
“At his core, Senator Ajimobi was a family man. He was a loving husband and father. My heart grieves for his wife, Florence, and their children. May they find the comfort that only Almighty Allah can provide at this moment.
“Ajimobi’s death hurts. Yet, we must all find strength in the good way he lived his life and in the fine and good ideals for which he fought. We must carry on with the important task ahead because that is what my dear friend and brother would expect of us.
“My prayer is that the Munificent Allah shower mercy upon him, reward his good deeds, and admit him to Aljanna Firdaus.”
