Condolence Visit To Gov. Dapo Abiodun On The loss Of His Father, Papa Emmanuel Abiodun On 27/08/2021

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON A CONDOLENCE VISIT TO GOVERNOR OF OGUN STATE, PRINCE DAPO ABIODUN FOR THE LOSS OF HIS FATHER, PA. EMMANUEL ADESANYA ABIODUN ON THE 27^TH OF AUGUST, 2021

PROTOCOLS

I am here for the purpose of paying my condolence on behalf of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, in person to our Governor and the family.

I say that I am here on that behalf because otherwise, I should really be a host here, not a visitor visiting my brother, Dapo. This as you all know is home and Papa was my father. I am here just because I have to represent the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria

There are three reasons at least, why we should be rejoicing and not mourning. The first is that Papa lived a long life, almost 90, a year to his 90th birthday, that is a good number.

The second is that before he died, I don’t think that there was any prayer of his that was not answered. I think one of his important prayers was for his son, who had aspired to be governor of Ogun State,  would in fact be the governor. Papa saw the inauguration of his son as governor. He was there for his first year, second year, and he did so with great joy.

The third reason is that he has left behind a worthy legacy. The Bible says a good man leaves inheritance for the children and children’s children. The inheritance is not cars and houses. Even houses, when it is transferred from children to the children’s children, they will end up selling it.

The inheritance that Baba left behind is the path of Jesus Christ, the path of truth, that is the footprint he left behind, and that is what he bequeathed his children. I am very happy that our governor has taken this seriously. I know that all through the period of the campaign and before, he was praying and fasting. That kind of approach to life can only come when your parents have put you on the right path.

I am extremely pleased to say to you today that we are rejoicing and celebrating the life of an incredibly great man who was not only known for his own contribution to society as a teacher, but also the fact that all through his life, he supported all the worthy causes, and was himself a progressive.

So, you cannot speak about progressive politics, progressive ideas without mentioning his name. So, we are all truly grateful to the Almighty God that he has made this possible.

While I express my condolence to you, I know how painful this particular loss was. In fact, when RT Honorable Speaker described how he broke down, I said that his was small in comparison to when I spoke to the governor. I almost got on a plane immediately to come and see the governor. And that its kind of love and affection that the governor had for his father and the father had for him in return.

We can only pray that Mama will live long and well, we are told that hey have been married for 65 years, and that is a very long time.

I pray that she will see even more of her grandchildren and great grandchildren in joy, and when the time comes for her going away, it will not be in pain, she will not be sick, all will be well with her in Jesus’ name.

I want to again just express my condolence to you and all the members of the family and to Ogun State because the loss of the first father of the state is a big loss to us all.

To all of us, we will all live long and bury our elders in Jesus’ name.

The Vice President also wrote a short tribute in the condolence register at the Abiodun family compound thus” “We bless the name of the lord, for his great gift of the excellent life and times of our father, Pa Emmanuel Adesanya Abiodun. We thank God for a life of service to man and as a teacher of teachers. But above all, we thank God for the grace of salvation by which we know that he now lives in joy and peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Halleluya!!!”