Buhari and Governors join in mourning Ajimobi

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the government and people of Oyo State over the passing of a former governor, Abiola Ajimobi.

Mr Ajimobi's death was announced on Thursday.

The president commiserated with the family of the former governor, who served as a senator before winning the governorship election in 2011.

"As the party chieftain bows out, President Buhari believes he left the world at a crucial moment when the party and the country needed his counsels to heal, and grow, noting that his absence will be sorely felt by all associates, particularly in the APC," a statement by the presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina, said Thursday.

Also, state governors in Nigeria, under the Nigeria Governors Forum, have expressed condolences to Mr Ajimobi's family.

The chairman of the forum, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in a statement, described the late Ajimobi as lively and fatherly. "There was never a dull moment with the late former Governor".

Mr Fayemi said the deceased "provided valuable counsel to the forum during his time as governor and member".

He added that he had personally followed developments in the late Ajimobi's health "since the news of the former governor's lung surgery broke and when he showed signs of recovery".

Mr Ajimobi reportedly died at a private hospital in Lagos after spending weeks in intensive care for coronavirus complications, according to Akin Alabi, a federal lawmaker and political associate of the former governor's. He was 70.

Mr Ajimobi's passing came a week after he was rumoured to have died at the same private hospital. That rumour turned to be false.

Mr Ajimobi was a senator from 2003 to 2007. After unsuccessful attempts, he was ultimately elected governor in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, becoming the first Oyo State governor to serve two terms.

This article was originally published by The Premium Times. Photo: The Premium Times.