- * Describes Late Royal Father As A Patriot
- Mourns Bashir Tofa, Former NRC Presidential Candidate
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Leading Presidential aspirant, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, on Sunday, condoled with the Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde and the entire people of Ibadanland on the death of their Monarch, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji.
Anyim in a condolence letter addressed to governor Makinde on Sunday, January 2, 2022, said he "received with sadness, the news of the death of our highly respected traditional ruler, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan.
"Let me convey to your Excellency, the family of His Royal Majesty and the good people of Ibadan, my deepest condolences on this sad event. Late Oba Adetunji was a patriotic Nigerian who was deeply committed to the peace, unity and development of our country.
"His nearly six years on the throne brought peace and great development to his kingdom and the entire Oyo state. His demise will be greatly felt as Oyo State and the country at large would miss his invaluable advice and wise counsel as the nation searches for solutions to her many challenges.
"I pray that the Lord will comfort his family and grant his soul eternal rest in His bosom. Your Excellency, once again, please accept my condolences".
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In a related development, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim also mourned the passage, on Monday morning, January 3, 2022, of Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, a kano-based businessman, veteran politician and former Presidential Candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in the ill-fated June 12 election.
Tofa died on Monday morning January 3, 2022, while the Olubadan of Ibadan passed on Sunday, January 2, 2022.
The former Senate President, Anyim, in his condolence message to Tofa's family, said the news of the sudden death of the northern political figure made him sorrowful.
Senator Anyim notes that the Late Alhaji Bashir Tofa "was a committed Nigerian who throughout his more than 40 years of active partisan politics demonstrated his strong belief in politics of accommodation and consensus building.
"He was so committed to a peaceful Nigeria that throughout the electioneering campaigns leading to the 1993 presidential elections, in which he was the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Tofa never did anything, in words or actions, that could have instigated crisis in any form".
Senator Anyim however commends Alhaji Tofa's "politics without bitterness" and strongly recommends such disposition to politicians of today in the interest of the peace, unity and harmony of our dear country even as we approach the 2023 general elections.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) regrets that Alhaji Tofa died when his experience and elderly counsel would be most needed as the country battles with multiple challenges. Anyim deeply condoles with the late Alhaji Tofa's family, the good people of Kano State and Alhaji Tofa's many friends and associates all over Nigeria.
He prays that Almighty God will grant the Soul of Alhaji Tofa eternal rest. NNL.
