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News
THE NATION ON SUNDAY JUNE 16, 2013
Death of a matriarch
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Abibat Mogaji passes on at 96
LHAJA (Dr) Abibatu Asabi Mogaji is dead. She died at the age of 96 at about 6pm on yesterday at her residence
number 10 Sunday Adigun, Ikeja, Lagos. The late Alhaja Mogaji, who until her death was President-general, Association of Nigerian Market
Women and Men, is the mother of the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu. She was this year honoured with a doctorate degree by the Ahmadu Bello University during its 50th anniversary. She was
honoured along with former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and former chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Theophilus. She will be buried today
at the Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos, after prayers at the Central Mosque, Lagos at 10am. Reception will take place at Blue Roof, Ikeja.
Tambuwal: She was an uncommon gift
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PEAKER of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, has described the death of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, mother of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who passed away yesterday, as a painful loss which has created a vacuum in the ranks of philanthropic Nigerians. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Me-
dia and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the deceased as a committed nationalist who gave all for the unity, progress and development of the nation. Tambuwal said as family members, friends and associates mourn Alhaja Abibat, they should be comforted by the knowledge that the renowned market leader lived a life full of many indelible achieve-
ments and notable contributions to development of Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general. The Speaker said the deceased “was an uncommon gift to Nigeria. And we will continue to cherish her love and affection”. While praying to Allah to reward her good deeds with Jannat, Tambuwal prayed to God give the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
She was a great woman, says Amosun
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GUN State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has described the death ofAlhaja Abibatu Mogaji, the President General of Nigeria Market women and men, as a great loss to Nigeria. Amosun, in a statement signed his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, condoled
with the children of the deceased, especially the National Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN), Senator Bola Tinubu, the government and People of Lagos State and the entire market women and men across the country. He said Mogaji led a fulfilled life and her footprints are endured on the sands of time. He recalled that Mama’s
sterling qualities, exemplary character and contribution to human development led to her being conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Human Letters (D.H.L) Honoris Causa by Ahmadu Bello University in 2012. “She was a great woman,” the governor said. May Allah grant Mama rest in Aljanah.
Aregbesola: We’ve lost a mother in a million
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HE death of Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji has been described as a loss of a mother in a million. Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the death of the Tinubu matriarch would leave a big vacuum in the political and commercial sectors of not only Lagos
State but Nigeria at large. Aregbesola said Madam Mogaji led a life of substance worthy of emulation. “Mama Abibat Mogaji was a mother in a million. We commiserate with children, particularly Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and others for the great loss. “We commiserate with the Oba of Lagos, HRH Rilwan Akiolu, the Mogaji Family, the people of Lagos, particularly
Alhaji Femi Okunnu; the party (ACN); the government of Lagos, market men and women in Nigeria and Lagos in particular. “We pray that God gives them the fortitude to bear the loss and we pray God grants her Aljana Firdaus,” Aregbesola said. He also extended the condolence of the government and people of Osun to the immediate and extended families of Tinubu and other well-wishers.
She was an activist par excellence, says Fayemi
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KITI State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has described the death of Alhaja Abibat Mogaji as a great and monumental loss for the nation’s commerce. The governor said in a statement on that Alhaja Mogaji was a pillar of support for many people in her lifetime as she served as an oak of succour to the lessprivileged. The statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, described Mogaji as a legend, a colossus and a titan whose contributions would remain indelible in the minds of many. He however said he was happy that the late market leader lived to a very ripe old age and positively contributed to the nation’s economy as an investor, entrepreneur, employer of labour and a bigtime merchant. Describing Alhaja Mogaji as an “activist par excellence”, Fayemi recalled that the deceased used her position to mobilise market women to fight for their economic rights and empowerment.
The governor pointed out that Alhaja Mogaji was in the forefront of women emanci-
pation and participation in politics most especially in having a say in the election of their political leaders.
Mogaji: A tale of politics and commerce A T 96, the PresidentGeneral of the Market Men and Women Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Abibat Mogaji, died peacefully in Lagos yesterday. She left behind worthy legacies in politics, commerce and philanthropy. Her last public assignment was performed in her capacity as the Chairman of the Lagos State Market Development Board. For almost 70 years, her name was synonymous with the Lagos market, its pride, beauty, varieties, pains and prospects. There was never a time her leadership was disputed. She had also articulated the interests of the market men and women and pressed for welfare programmes for traders throughout the country. Mogaji had shown those traits and promise of leadership as a kid trader and apprentice learning at the feet of Madam Pelewura,
By Emmanuel Oladesu Group Political Editor
a successful and influential trader, during the colonial period. She achieved her freedom after serving her boss with loyalty, honesty, principle and faith. Immediately, she built on that time-tested trading reputation. When she started her own business, she became a household name in the metropolis, mentoring young leaders and organising them into associations and societies for interest articulation and aggregation. She taught the principles of profitable trading, diversification of commercial ventures and debt recovery. She also exposed many traders to variety trading, customers relations, confidence building, lending and borrowing with dignity and keeping of trading promise. Mogaji achieved fame by dint of hard work, self-sacrifice and commitment to the
goals of life. She was a focused trader and employer of labour in the informal setting. Many who came to her as trading apprentices later became so intimate with her and she treated them like blood relations. As a parent, she groomed people without sparing the rod to spoil the child. A rich trader, she became a philanthropist. She sponsored many indigent students up to tertiary institutions. She was also a pillar of support for many youths who ventured into small scale businesses. The prominent market leader has also sponsored many Muslims for holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Christians to Jerusalem from her pocket. Unknown to many, Mogaji was a politician. She had joined the Action Group (AG) led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the fifties, mobilising support for the party leader during the campaigns. She was an active
member of the AG Women Association led by the late Mrs. Olayinka Rosiji, mother of the late Chif Ayo Rosiji, the party secretary. Through her political activities, she became intimate with Mrs. HID Awolowo. Community historians recall that when the late Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu wanted to replace Basorun J.K Randle as a councillor in the Lagos Town Council, Mogaji was one of the eminent Lagosians who campaigned for him, despite the stiff opposition by the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) chieftains, including Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, Alhaji S.A Adewale (The boy is good), Otunba TOS Benson, Chief Adeleke Adedoyin and Dr. Ibiyinka Olorunnimbe. Mrs Mogaji was not a woman of letters. But, during the AG crisis, she rejected overtures from the late Chief Ladoke Akintola to desert Awo. Throughout the period
that Awo was in prison, she was always part of the partisan birthday ceremonies organised for the late sage. Alhaji Mogaji was among the party women who rallied support for Alhaji Lateef Jakande in 1979, who ran for the governorship on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), when he defeated Alhaji Ladega Adele of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and also in 1983. She was part of the Reconciliation Team to Kwara State to resolve the protracted crisis in the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) between Senator Cornelius Adebayo and Chief Sunday Olawoyin. As Mrs Awolowo recalled, women recorded success where the men failed. In this dispensation, old age had caught up with the Amazon. But in her old age, she did not mock her political antecedent. She had been a pillar of support for •Continued on Page 9