The late Babalola BorishadeFormer Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed shock and sadness at the death of former Aviation Minister, Professor Babalola Borishade.
Atiku, in a condolence message personally signed by him said the late Borishade was a man of simple and steady character, who easily created friendships with people around him.
“I have lost a dear friend. I have known Boris (as I fondly called him) for more than three decades as a friend, a political tactician, strategist, organizer and philosopher.”
According to Atiku Abubakar, “we worked collectively and prayed together that he would come out of the illness but God knows best.”
The Turakin Adamawa said Borishade was one of the strategists that made the Yar’Adua group one of the formidable groups ever in Nigeria.
Atiku recalld the quality leadership that Borishade provided during his bid for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress in 2015, when he (Borishade) was the Director General of his campaign.
“I recall with fond memories the wonderful working relationships with Boris (as I fondly called him) during the Federal Executive Council days when we were in government and most recently as the indefatigable Director General of my presidential campaign.
“Boris would respond to every challenge with elan and worked as a fantastic team player, such that he would pass as one of the finest administrators I have worked with.”
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, also said he received with shock the news of the death of a former Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade, who he described as an academic and public servant par excellence.
Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the former Minister as a dynamic administrator and great reformer.
He said: “Prof. Borishade was a man of many parts. He was an engineer, teacher, politician and strategist, who brought a touch of excellence to every assignment he handled.
“Some of the great achievements the nation recorded in the aviation, education and power sectors in the country since 1999 had the imprimatur of Professor Borishade,” he said.
He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the government and people of Ekiti State over the incident, while calling on them to take solace in the enduring legacy of forthrightness, integrity, loyalty and hard-work left by their father.
He equally prayed God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal rest, and the family, the grace to bear the loss.