Releases
Former President Jonathan condoles with Kwara Governor over death of father
Former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has commiserated with Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdul-Razaq, over the passing on of his father Alhaji Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq, who died on Saturday at the age of 93.
In a condolence message he personally signed, the former President described late Abdul-Razaq as a highly respected legal icon.
The message stated: “I condole with you, all the members of the Abdul-Razaq family, and the good people of Kwara State on the sad demise of your dear father, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq, which occurred on Saturday, July 25, 2020.
“Painful as his passing must be, you and your siblings can find solace in the fact that your late father lived a life truly worthy of celebration. He not only was the first lawyer to emerge from the northern part of our nation, he was one of the most successful and highly respected icons in the legal profession in Nigeria.
“He epitomized the best of committed service to family, community, country and humanity in all that he did in his 93 years of an exceptionally fulfilled life. Alhaji A.G.F. Razaq leaves behind a rich legacy of which you, your siblings, and the entire people of Kwara State can justifiably be very proud.
“It is my prayer that Almighty God grants his soul eternal rest even as He imbues you and all whom he has left behind with the fortitude to cope with the passing of this quintessential titan.”
—————–
Niger Gov, Tinubu mourn death of Kwara Governor’s father
By Mary Noel-Berje, Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor.
Chairman, North Central Governors’ Forum, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State State has commiserated with the Government and people of Kwara State over the death of Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq, SAN, (OFR), father to the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
Governor Sani Bello described the death as a loss not only to Kwara State, but to the entire Northern Region as the deceased was the first lawyer in the Region.
The Governor while sympathizing with his Kwara State counterpart urged him to take solace in Almighty Allah as “He is the one that gives and takes life, adding that the late jurist lived a fulfilled life, promoting the development and growth of the Region as well as the country at large”.
He said though his wise counsel and elderly advice would be greatly missed, the Governor prayed Allah to forgive the deceased his shortcomings on earth and reward him with Aljannatu Firdausi as well as give the family and well wishers fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Born in 1927, Late Pa Folorunsho AbdulRazaq was the Mutawali of Ilorin, the Tafida of Zazzau (Zaria) and was the Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers.
He died in the early hours of Saturday the 25th of July, 2020.
The deceased is survived by an aged wife Alhaja Raliat AbdulRazaq, children among them is the incumbent Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and many grandchildren.
——————-
Minister Condoles With Kwara Gov. Over Father’s Death
By Segun Adeyemi, Special Assistant To The President (Media), Office of The Minister of Information and Culture
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has condoled with the Executive Governor of Kwara State. His Excellency AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, and his entire family over the death of their patriarch, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Folorunsho Abdul-Razaq, SAN (OFR).
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Minister also sent his condolences to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Ilorin Emirate as well as the government and people of Kwara State.
He said the family of the deceased should take solace in the fact that Alhaji AbdulRazaq, SAN, led a worthy, fufilled and exemplary life.
”He left his footprints in the sand of time. He was not just a mere witness in the making of an independent Nigeria, he was an active participant.
”However, his greatest achievement, in my opinion, is the fact that he raised very successful children who, in their own rights, have also positively impacted Nigeria in their various fields of endeavour. That he lived long enough to see His Excellency, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, elected and sworn in as the Executive Governor of Kwara State, is no doubt the jewel in the crown of his incredible landmark achievements,” Alhaji Mohammed said.
”May Allah forgive Papa his sins and admit him into Aljannah Firdaus,” he said.
—————-
Papa Abdulrasaq’s Passing, End of An Era, Says Asiwaju
By Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described the death on Saturday of the first lawyer in Northern Nigeria, Alhaji AbdulGaniy Folorunsho Abdulrasaq, as the end of an important era in this country.
The late Abdulrasaq who died at 93 is the father of Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq.
In an emotional condolence statement personally signed by him Asiwaju Tinubu said: “The passing at 93 of the iconic patriot and elder statesman, Alhaji AbdulGaniy Folorunsho Abdulrasaq, popularly known as AGF, signifies the end of another era in the annals of this country.
“The likes of AGF were the proverbial hewers of wood and drawers of water who laboured hard for the strong foundation upon which our dear country was erected.
“He was there in the thick of all the nationalistic struggles and negotiations during the transition from colonial era to an independent Nigeria.
“A nationalist in its true definition and a pan-Nigerian in all its adoring flavours, Papa Abdulrasaq did a lot for this country. He was an educationist who founded the first privately-owned secondary school, Ilorin College, Ilorin, now known as Ilorin Government High School, in the old Ilorin Province.
“He was an active player during the nascent post-independence period of the 1960’s, helping to stitch together the multi-interest and diverse expectations of the peoples of this country.
“AGF gave his very best to our country as a top legal practitioner, indeed the first lawyer to emerge from the Northern part of Nigeria, who also rose to become the Chairman, Council of Body of Benchers.
“He was also many more in his unparalleled service to the country: a technocrat whose era as President, Nigeria Stock Exchange, helped to bolster the competitiveness of our stock exchange sector; a politician who was the first National Legal Adviser of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC); Minister of State for Railway; a diplomat who was Nigeria’s Ambassador to Cote D’viore (Ivory Coast), and a foremost community leader, the Mutawalli of Ilorin Emirate and Tafida of Zaazau (Zaria).
“The departure of the highly revered AGF, the father of the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, has left a huge vacuum in our national life.
“I commiserate with Governor Abdlurasaq, I mourn with his brother, Alhaji Alimi Abdulrasaq, and their other siblings. My condolences also to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the good people of Ilorin and Kwara State over the demise of their most illustrious son.
“I hope and pray that Munificent Allah grant them the strength and fortitude only He can provide in order to live after Papa’s passing. May Almighty Allah also reward Papa of his good deeds, forgive his shortcoming and admit him to Aljanna Firdaus.”