‘Eminent statesman’ | ‘Man of impeccable virtue’ — Tinubu, Atiku mourn Bola Ajibola

Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, has mourned the death of Bola Ajibola, former minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation.

Ajibola died on Sunday at the age of 89.

He served as the minister of justice during the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida and was also the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu described Ajibola as a patriotic citizen whose contributions to the country’s development will be documented in gold.

“I received the news of the passing, on Sunday, of Prince Bola Ajibola, SAN at 89, with profound sadness,” Tinubu said.

“The former Nigeria’s minister of justice and leader of the bar was an eminent statesman and legal icon whose contributions to national progress and development will be written in gold.

“During his earthly sojourn, Prince Ajibola didn’t just serve his country with his gift of extraordinary brilliance as a lawyer, he served the world as a judge of International Court of Justice in Hague and member of its Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

“As ICJ judge, Ajibola made his mark as one of the brightest legal minds in the world in many decided cases involving state actors across the world. Through his excellent performance, he brought honour and dignity to Nigeria.

“In his later years, he devoted himself to the promotion of Islam and expansion of the frontier of knowledge through training and development of cutting-edge manpower for national  growth with the establishment of Crescent University in Abeokuta, his home-town.

“Ajibola will be remembered for his patriotism and love for Nigeria and his countrymen and women regardless of their ethnic origin or religious persuasions.

“Although we had hoped and prayed that Ajibola would still be around with us for a little more time to witness the dawn of a new era of renewed hope for our people in a better, stronger, more secure and more prosperous Nigeria, however, we thank Almighty Allah that he lived to an advanced age and left behind important legacies.”

ATIKU: HE WAS A MAN OF IMPECCABLE VIRTUE

In his condolence statement, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar described Ajibola as a man of impeccable virtue..

“There are so many things to remember Prince Bola Ajibola for. That he was a doyen of the law profession and his accomplishments as a jurist of note is the most basic of the things that we shall tell of his memories,” Atiku said.

“Of course, he did the country proud when he served at the International Court of Justice at The Hague, as well as during his years of service as Nigeria’s envoy to the United Kingdom. But what was spectacular about the late eminent jurist was how his values of forthrightness and candour, which, by the way, is emblematic of his Egba heritage, reflected in all other spheres of his earthly engagements.

“As a diplomat, jurist, educationist – or any other role that you may wish to describe the late Prince Bola Ajibola, what is consistent about his character is the overwhelming presence of rectitude and forbearance in every of his endeavours. Those two qualities of his personality are the secret codes to his achievements in life. I am sure that they are qualities that his family and friends will be proud of, and we should immortalize in memory of him.

“Prince Ajibola was always at peace with his Creator and fellow humans when he was at this side of the divide and the legacies of his lifetime should be a beacon that should call younger Nigerians to an exemplary life that he lived.

“While I condole with the Ajibola family and the good people and government of Ogun state over the loss of such an illustrious son, I must say that the country and the entire globe will mourn the passing of such a great man of impeccable virtue. I pray that the Almighty Allah will give his family the fortitude to accept the pass of a patriarch and that his soul shall be granted easy access into Al-Janah Firdaus.”