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Osinbajo pays tribute to late Oniru, says he was visionary
BY KAZIE UKO
Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has described the late paramount ruler of Iru Land, Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru, as a visionary leader who contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State.
Osinbajo spoke Wednesday at the Oniru Palace, Oniru Private Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos while commiserating with the family of the late Oba and the entire Iru Land on the passage of the first-class Lagos monarch.
“All of us know the very great contributions that the departed Oniru made in this state and even across the country.
“He was a very far sighted person, a visionary. A lot of progress that we have seen, and partly even the creation of local governments, and all of that and very great support that he always gave to the Lagos State government at various times.
“We’re all extremely grateful for that contribution that he made. We very strongly believe that but for his contributions a lot of what we are seeing today, even the creation of this particular local government (Oniru Development Council) we’re in today and so many other developments in the state, especially development around physical infrastructure and all that (would not have been possible), the vice president recounted.
R-L: Prince Adesegun Oniru, Prof Osinbajo, Femi Pedro and Babafemi Ojudu
He added: “His contributions were very, very significant indeed. Aside from that his guidance and counsel all the time have been all very, very useful indeed.
“I served in this state, as you know, as attorney general and throughout that period he was always there for us, always there to support, always there to back us.
“So, we’re all deeply saddened by this departure and I told Segun (Prince Adesegun Oniru) earlier that he’s not the only one who has lost a father, we have also lost a dear father and we’re all very deeply saddened by it.
“But we thank God that he lived a life of significance; he lived a life of serious contribution to the development of our state and our nation.
“So, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria and Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari, I express my sincere condolence to the Oniru family and to our state, Lagos State and to all of us.
“Thank you very much. God bless you.”
Osinbajo and his entourage were received at the palace by Prince Adesegun Oniru.
Prince Oniru thanked the vice president for coming, despite his busy schedule.
“On behalf of my family, I thank you so much for coming and I know that this is not the norm but we go a long way together.
“Whilst you were attorney general of Lagos State, I also served in that same cabinet and today you can see what that cabinet is in Nigeria.”
On the vice president’s entourage were a former deputy governor of Lagos State, Olufemi Pedro; special adviser to the president on political affairs, Babafemi Ojudu and chairman of Chapel Hill Denham, Mr. Olawale Edun.