Ogun Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun on Wednesday broke his silence on the passing of his father, Pa Emmanuel Abiodun, describing his demise as “painful and a great loss to him and his family”.
Abiodun, who disclosed this when he received Remo traditional rulers, members of Ijebu-Remo Unity Forum, Labour Union leaders, NANS leadership and other prominent personalities during a condolence visit to his Family House in Iperu-Remo, said his late dad urged him to respect the civil servants, pay pensioners regularly and treat teachers well.
“When I assumed office, my dad told me to be faithful to the oath of office I took, he said I should respect the civil servants, pay them regularly and ensure that pensioners get their gratuities and all will be well.
“He also asked me to treat teachers well, you know that was his constituency, he told me to pay workers on time, before the last day of the month”, the Governor said, adding he has scrupulously kept to that advice.
Abiodun further noted his late father was a humble man who lived for his family and community. He said he was completely broken when he received the news of his death, stressing “my father lived for his family and community. We are a well knitted family. I have always feared a day like this. My father was a humble man”.
Abiodun added: “I am greatly pained by his death, but slowly coming to terms with the fact that he is no more. He had a humble beginning, but a glorious end”.
Recounting his experience with his father while growing up, Abiodun said he never saw his father got angry but would always discipline his children when they misbehaved.
“People say I am humble. Of course I will be when my parents, especially, my father was a very humble man. This is because of my upbringing. I learnt to follow his life style and footsteps,” he noted.
Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, said late Pa Abiodun was an astute administrator and a great teacher who impacted positive values in the lives of younger ones.
He said the passing of the governor’s father must not be signposted with mourning but expression of joy for a life well spent, adding that “even at a very old age, his faculty was still intact”.