The remains of the President-General, Association of Nigerian Market
Women and Men, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, mother of the former Lagos State
governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubua, were on Sunday, committed to mother
earth at Vaults and Garden Cemetery, Ikoyi amidst tears, eulogies and
tributes.
The body was lowered into the tomb at 12:42pm. Before then, the body
that departed her home at Sunday Adigun Street in Alausa, Ikeja at about
10:45am and was driven in a Grey Mercedes Benz wagon 400 marked TOS 7
belonging to TOS funeral for Islamic funeral service at the Lagos
Central Mosque located on Lagos Island.
By 11:25am, the white casket containing the remains were taken into
the mosque for a brief prayer led by the Chief Imam of Lagos, Alhaji M.
G. Akinola Ibrahim.
The body was later removed from the white casket, wrapped in a white cloth and interred in the vault.
Asiwaju Tinubu was flanked by the Governor of Oyo State, Abiola
Ajimobi and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Bisi
Akande, Ahaji Femi Okunnu, House of Representatives members.
Speaking to newsmen on how his mother passed on, he said she died while relaxing.
According to him, “on Saturday afternoon, she had her lunch. After
that, she used her drugs and rested. While resting, death came and
snatched my mother away. Well, immediately she died, I felt her void.
One cannot but look at his mother being buried.”
Tinubu said though he was going to miss her motherly care, he was glad she lived a successful life.
The strong man of Lagos politics reminisced on some of the fond
moments he spent with her, saying she inspired him greatly during his
eight years reign as governor of Lagos State.
“I miss her lunch even when I am full. I am very happy that she is my
mother. She is a very successful mother. She is a good leader. She
didn’t put anyone in suffering before she departed from this world. She
is so kind and God was also kind to her. She is a good thinker,
passionate and compassionate. She has left a very good legacy for
everyone.” He said he took solace in the fact that she impacted in all
those she came across during her 96 glorious years on earth.
“She was the one who asked me to look at the face of three women who
had challenge of paying their children’s West African Examination
Council (WAEC) fee, which touched me. It isn’t the amount of money I
pulled out of my pocket but as a governor then, I began the policy of
paying WAEC fees of pupils in Lagos State public schools. Those are
things that will fascinate anyone about my late mother. She taught
everyone she came across contentment, love and the act of sharing,
especially to the needy.”
Tinubu who affirmed that her demise had left a vacuum, which might be
hard to fill, urged women to take a cue and stand for what they
believed in, even in the face of adversity.
“There are many lessons women can learn from her. And one of the
lessons is that they should learn to be resilient, committed and
industrious in order to help banish poverty in the country. She is a
committed democrat. She believes in the one man, one vote campaign. She
will vote and mobilise others to do so. Women must continue to plan
together and share issues, discuss together,” he added.
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