By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has said that AGF Absulrazaq, the late father of Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was a statesman.
Ganduje made the comment during a visit to Ilorin to pay a condolence visit.
He went in the company of Senator Barau Jibril, House of Representatives member, Kabir Abubakar, and some of his cabinet members.
“We are here to condole with you over the death of your dad and to condole with the people of Kwara State and by implication the people of Nigeria.
“We have indeed lost a great man but as Muslims we have to accept the will of God, the will of Allah. Your daddy lived a worthy life. He was a great man, a nationalist, and also a devout Muslim who grew up in a Muslim family. We sincerely condole you and we will continue to pray Allah to grant your daddy Aljanah Firdaus.
“We also appreciate the relationship between the people of Kano State and Kwara State occasioned by inter-marriage between Kano and Ilorin traditional emirates. There is no better history that will portray relationship between population than inter-marriage. We appreciate that and pray Almighty Allah to continue to guide you in the governance of the state.”
Ganduje said his Kwara counterpart has made significant progress in the development of the State.
“We appreciate your tremendous efforts in improving the socioeconomic development of the state despite the current economic situation,” he said.
Ganduje was received by the Governor and Kwara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa (BOB) who had earlier joined AbdulRazaq’s delegation to welcome Ganduje tyo the state.
BOB commended Ganduje and members of his entourage for the condolence visit.
“We appreciate your visit to commiserate with the Governor and the people of Kwara State on the loss of the father of our state,” he said, praying the Almighty God to grant the delegation a safe return to their destination.
Also on the condolence visit were the State APC Deputy Chairman Abdullahi Samari; Party Secretary Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo; Vice Chairman South Olabanji Olayemi; the Publicity Secretary Alhaji Folaranmi Aro; and a host of others who came to commiserate with the Governor on behalf of the party.
A delegation of the Kwara State House of Assembly led by Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu also visited the Governor to commiserate with him on the death of his father and the Chief of Staff Aminu Adisa Logun.
Salihu described the sage’s death as a mixture of sadness and happiness, considering the yearnings to always have such statesmen around and his achievements in life as a lawyer and a national figure.
A five-person delegation of the Kwara APC Elders’ Council comprising Senator Ahmed Mohammed; Barrister Kunle Sulaiman; Prince Sunday Fagbemi; Chief Wole Oke; and Chief James Ayeni also paid a condolence visit to the Governor.
“The late AGF led a “very good life, contributed to growth and development of Kwara and, being a true son, we believe you will carry on his legacy,” Barrister Suleiman said.
BOB later led a separate delegation of the Kwara State Executive Council to the Governor to commiserate with him.