TRIBUTE: SIR OLU ABIOLA – DEPARTURE OF A COLOSSUS

I received with shock and deep sorrow the departure of Chief Sir Festus Oluwagbenga Abiola on Sunday, July 16. He was 73 years old.

Sir Abiola was a community leader, an industrialist, successful businessman, patriot, a widely traveled socialite and a devout Christian.

Until his death, he was the Chairman of Unique Radiovision, a private broadcast outfit located in Ilesa, State of Osun. He was a rallying-point in the politics of Ijesaland and State of Osun in general.

Sir Abiola was a Pillar of Support for The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijesaland and our state. He was a firm believer in the development agenda and ideology notable with the progressives, in which cause he invested a greater part of his adult life for their realisation in the South-West and the entire nation.

A Christian and of the Catholic denomination, Chief Abiola demonstrated his undying love for God through untiring pious religious devotion. He was to many a shade of rest and pillar of support; providing succour and relief to the needy, the downtrodden and the vulnerable in the society. His efforts in the area of communal service never abated till he breathed his last.

He was my confidant, mentor, ally and supporter who gave his all to the cause of my administration. He was devoted to our cause from my emergence on the platform of Oranmiyan, to the campaigns, the election proper, the years of struggle for my mandate, my first term in office, my re-election, my ups and downs, the struggles, the challenges and triumphs.

His death is a personal and irreparable loss. He will be greatly missed. May God grant his soul eternal repose and unending comfort in his next estate. Amen.

On behalf of my family, the government and good people of Osun, I pray that God will grant his family, the people of Ijesaland, particularly our Kabiyesi, Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland and Owa-in-Council, the fortitude to bear this irredeemable loss.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

Governor, State of Osun