8
South West
Monday, June 17, 2013
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Lagos stands still as Tinubu buries mum •Jonathan, Mark, Tambuwal, others pay tributes
ROTIMI FADEYI, MURITALA AYINLA, WOLE ADEDEJI, PRISCILLA DENNIS AND TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE
L
agos stood still yesterday as the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, buried his mother, Alhaja Abibat Mogaji, amid pomp. The House of Representatives Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal; Governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Ibikunke Amusun (Ogun) paid tributes to the mother of the ACN leader. Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyouku; ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and the ACN chieftain, Chief Tom Ikimi, also joined hundreds of eminent Nigerians that paid tributes to the late Mogaji. As early as 8:4am, all roads leading to Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens and Lagos Central Mosques on Lagos Island were busy with heavy gridlock. Abibat Mogaji’s body was taken to the Central Mosque, Lagos Island, at about 11:24 am for Jannazah prayer before the final burial at the Ikoyi Vaults and Gardens. Speaking after the burial, Tambuwal described the late President- General of the Market Women and Men Association of Nigeria as a widely acknowledged philanthropist, who would be greatly missed by all the downtrodden in the nation. He said: “She was a great woman and a great mobiliser of women and an advocate of people’s right. Her socio-economic contribution to the nation will definitely be missed. She has left a vacuum in the nation. She was a special gift to this country. Other market women and
MURITALA AYINLA
I
ndications emerged yesterday that markets in Lagos and other states of the federation will be shut today in honour of the late President-
men must emulate mama. They should be fair especially in the way they fixe price for their commodity.” Governor Aregbesola said the late Iya-loja was a Muslim who lived an exemplary life by sharing with the needy, regardless of where they come from. He said: “She was a mobiliser and a good organiser. She was a leader and mobiliser of women. She was a philanthropist. She was charitable and compassionate. She mentored us so much.” But speaking at the Fidau held at the Blue Roof of the LTV8, the National Missioner of the Ansar-UDeen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul Rahaman Ahmad, described death as inevitable, urging the nation’s leaders to always remember death as it would come when it is not prepared for. He said: “Alhaja Abibat Mogaji came, saw and conquered. I sympathise with Asiwaju. We came one-byone and we shall return to Almighty one after the other.” President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday sympathised with Tinubu over the death of his mother. In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President extended his condolence to Tinubu as the body of Alhaja Mogaji was buried. Jonathan said he joined Tinubu, his family, the people of Lagos and the many Nigerians whose lives were touched by the deceased’s activism over the years in mourning the late President-General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men. Senate President David Mark described the late Mogaji as an ideal mother who contributed to the peace and development of the society. Mark noted that the late Mogaji was a great busi-
ness woman and leader whose philanthropic gesture cut across ethnic and religious boundaries. He added that the late Mogaji would be remembered for her industry and leadership quality, saying that she was “a great leader who brought dignity and honour in administration and purposeful management in commerce and industry in Lagos and the environs.” Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu described Mogaji’s death as a big loss. In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndyebo, Aliyu described the late Iyaloja of Lagos as a towering business and women’s rights figure who not only brought tremendous change to the business and political landscape of Lagos, but to Nigeria.
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in a statement made available to National Mirror yesterday by Francis Ede, Senior Media Assistant to APGA National Chairman, Maxi Okwu, described the late Mogaji as a renowned market leader, activist and mobiliser of the womenfolk for socioeconomic change and empowerment. Governor Fayemi of Ekiti described Mogaji’s death as a great loss for the nation’s commerce and economy. The governor said in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary that Alhaja Mogaji was a pillar of support for many people in her lifetime as she served as an oak of succour to the less-privileged. Also, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State recalled the late Alhaja Mogaji’s involvement in
politics from her days as a member of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Action Group (AG) and the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), stating that her footprints on the political terrain, especially in the mobilisation of the womenfolk, for political and development purposes can never be wished away. The governor praised Alhaja Mogaji’s involvement in commerce as well and the role she played as the President General of the Association of Nigerian Market Women and Men, an association with which she fought for the rights of market men and women. Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the death of Alhaja Magaji was a great national loss given her prominent position in the coordination and mobilisation of market women for national development.
BURIAL OF ALHAJA ABIBATU MOGAJI
Arrival of Alhaja Mogaji’s body at Ikoyi Cemetery.
Sympathisers at the cemetery.
PHOTOS: BAYOOR EWUOSO
Abibat Mogaji: Nigeria’s markets to be shut today General of Market Women and Men Association, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji. Although, there were speculations that some markets in the North may not be shut, sources said markets in the South-West
would observe the closure in honour of the deceased. Speaking with National Mirror yesterday, the Iya-Oja-General of Lagos Island, Alhaja Iyabode Fagbemi, said all markets in the country were ex-
pected to be shut as mark of respect for the departed leader. She said: “As at now, the conclusion is that markets should be shut tomorrow (today). It will be observed across the nation
because the deceased was the President-General of the Market Women and Men across the country. That is what we can say for now. By tomorrow or next tomorrow, there may be other development”.
Farmlands destroyed in Ibadan pipeline explosion KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN
L
ess than two weeks after the activities of pipeline vandals caused explosion in Elebu area of Ibadan, another explosion on Saturday night rocked Alapata community in the city. The community is on Apete-Akufo Road. During a visit to the scene yesterday, the valve pit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline was still burning while thick smoke covered the air with men of the antivandalisation squad of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) the police, NNPC team and State Security Service (SSS) officials keeping people away from the scene An eye witness, who did not want his name mentioned, told journalists that the explosion did not claim any life, but destroyed some portions of farmlands and other property. A farmer, Alhaji Fatai Ayilara, said that security operatives were contacted immediately some strange movement was noticed in the area on Wednesday. He then called for the construction of the road linking the area to Apata community as part of the measures to check the activities of the vandals. Ayilara said: “We suspected some strange movement around this area on Wednesday and we informed the security. About eight of them came and we went round together. “On Friday when I closed from work, I observed that the vandals have tempered with the valve pit. I went round and realised the padlock was intact. There was no damage to the iron there too, but I saw foot prints along the bush path. “Then on Saturday morning, I observed massive noise from the area.” However, before we got back, fuel had already started gushing out and flowing into farmlands, stream and adjourning areas. We informed security and I left. I was later informed that the place caught fire.