The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has paid tribute to the former governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, who died yesterday.
Ajimobi died after suffering complications as a result of COVID-19.
In a tribute titled “Ajimobi Was a Great Man”, Aregbesola said that the former governor was committed to the Yoruba core values.
He wrote: “This is a strange and sad time. In less than 45 days, a number of our political allies and intimate companions have departed from our sphere to “Iwale asa” as our people will say. Among the lost gems was my dear Egbon Isiaka Abiola Akanji Ajimobi, the immediate past governor of Oyo State.
His death has been very devastating in its impact on me. Egbon was the only ally in the West to our cause and standing by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He was steadfast and unflinching in his commitment to core Yoruba values and the defence of our leadership
“This loyalty cost him a lot electorally and personally. The dark conspiracy against him was quite huge, unsparing and unrelenting. Of course, he calmly weathered the storm and survived the intrigue with a rare comportment and maturity.
“Death is a necessary end for mortals. As distressing as his passage is, we are consoled by the fact that Egbon was exemplary in many ways. From his character of accommodation, loyalty, generosity, resilience and love, to courage of conviction and full constitutional tenure of eight years as the governor of Oyo, he towered shoulder-high above most.
He was born great into an illustrious family, but he earned his greatness through hard work, personal sacrifice, grim determination and the force of unconquerable human spirit. Everything he touched became gold. Certainly, Egbon Ajimobi was a colossus! He was a nice and great man
“My heart goes to his wife; Florence Ajimobi, the children and associates. I must remind them of what Allah SWT says in the Holy Quran, Suratul Ar Rahman; 55:26-27; “everyone that is on the earth will perish and pass away: and everlasting, to remain forever is the face and supreme divinity of your Lord, majestic and glorious”
“Please, be consoled that your patriarch was a fantastic human being. A complete OMOLUABI; an epitome of virtue and character. His death is a loss to all nationalists, federalists, genuine democrats and progressives
“May God grant him honourable mention on the tongue of truth among the latest generation, as He forgives all his acts of indiscretion. May he find favours with his Lord and be a companion of Al Jannah Firdaus. Aamen!”
