Still on his mother’s demise, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has continued to receive prominent Nigerians who paid him condolence visits – the latest visitor was the Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola had earlier sent in a letter.
Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola passed on to eternal glory last Tuesday.
The Kaduna State governor who was in Osun to console with the governor, commended his Osun state counterpart Ogbeni for being aggressive in bringing development to Osun and her people since the inception of his administration.
Fashola, in his letter entitled Condolence dated 3rd of August and signed personally, conveyed his deepest condolence to Aregbesola of the loss of the Aregbesola matriarch.
The Minister said no pain could be more felt by the Governor than the loss of his mother, who meant everything to him since birth.
Describing the deceased as an unwavering pillar of support, Fashola said Alhaja Saratu meant the whole world to the Governor just as the Governor meant the whole world to the late mum.
Fashola appealed to the Governor to take the demise of his mum as an act of God and as a Muslim put his faith in God, who is the creator and inheritor of all that He created.
The letter read: Please permit my deepest sympathy for you and the family on the passage of your cherished mother and the renowned business woman, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola.
“As an unwavering pillar of support from birth through your current station in life, I know your mum meant the world to you and you meant the world to her, hence no pain would probably be more far reaching than losing her at this point in time.
However, as a Muslim faithful, I implore you to be comforted by the knowledge that Almighty Allah knows the best and that Mama has gone to be with her Maker after a most worthy and virtuous earthly sojourn.
Please be certain that you are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. On behalf of my wife, Dame Emmanuella, I say our heartfelt condolences once again and pray that the Almighty Allah grant Iya Olobi’s soul Al-Jannah Fridaus.
He said Nigeria and Nigerians are watching and conscious of his unprecedented social interventions programmes and grand-breaking achievements in all spheres of life being impacted in the lives of the Osun citizens.
Governor El-Rufai made the remarks while paying a condolence visit to Governor Aregbesola over the demise of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola who died last week.
He lauded Aregbesola for not being deterred in his efforts to turn around the socio-economic fortunes of even in the face of dire economy ravaging the nation.
According to him, it is on records that the administration of Governor Aregbesola has made a huge success in all aspects of the economy most interestingly in the areas of education, health, security and empowerment programmes designed for the youth.
“We are very proud of you. You are a man of great vision. You are a governor that is so compassionate. You have rescued Osun state and its people from degrading and placed them on sand-footing as you are committed to the upliftment of lives of the ordinary people in the state.
“You have maintained your status even in the face of trials to remain what you are as a man of great vision, great passion and great commitment. We are very proud of you.
“You are known to be one of the few leaders who assumed power not because of the sake of it but to give and restore fate and hope to ordinary people by putting them on sand-footing.
“Almighty Allah will reward you bountifully because I was here some years back and I have seen some ground-breaking achievements that had emerged through your administration.
“The entire nation is aware of your social protection policies that brought about the engagement of 40, 000 youths in two batches. We are also aware of the Elementary School Feedings which my own state (Kaduna) has replicated as well as other states in Nigeria.
“We have also seen the grand-breaking achievements in the health sector that is why my administration deemed it fit to chose Osun as a state to be understudied in the cause of search for leading state in good governance.
“As we all know that Kaduna state government sent some officials to Osun when I was elected Governor to understudy how good governance is being sustained through Aregbesola’s dynamic efforts.
“We also sent some delegation to Osun to learn when we wanted to commence our school feeding programmes.
“So, it isn’t a doubt that Governor Aregbesola is an example of honesty, integrity, commitment and dedication. Infact, you are epitome of good governance and what politics and All Progressives Congress, APC represents.
“You have used your good position to restore hopes to the people of Osun as this is manifested in the level of developments emerging across the state”, El-Rufai added.
While consoling Aregbesola over his mother’s death, Governor El-Rufai described the deceased as a woman who God has blessed with a fulfilled life as being reflected in the fruits of the womb she was blessed with which Aregbesola is one of them.
He therefore prayed God to repose the soul of late Saratu Aregbesola and grant her Aljana Fridaos while seeking His face to give the bereaved the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commended Governor El-Rufai for being part of the active personalities in nation building.
He therefore expressed profound gratitude to those who have sent condolences, goodwills, SMS and e-mails to share the pains with his family.
Packaged by Bunmi Oladejo
