By Ayomide Otitoju
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have paid a condolence visit to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, following the passing of his elder brother, Sunday Makinde.
Sunday Makinde passed away in the early hours of Friday after a brief illness at the age of 65.
The delegation, led by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, visited Makinde at his private residence in Agodi GRA, Ibadan.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Mohammed described the late Sunday Makinde as a man who lived a fulfilled life and conveyed the governors’ heartfelt sympathy. He assured Makinde of their unwavering solidarity during this difficult time.
“We are here on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum to commiserate with you over the loss of your senior brother. Though we have spoken on the phone, we felt it was necessary to visit and show our support in person,” Mohammed said.
“We understand this is a huge loss, but we also know you to be a strong leader. Your brother contributed his quota to the growth and development of Nigeria, which is evident in your emergence as governor.
“You have worked hard without relying on political godfathers, and today, you are an indefatigable governor doing exceptionally well in the PDP. On behalf of my colleagues, we extend our condolences and pray that God grants you and your family the strength to bear this loss.”
In his response, Governor Makinde expressed gratitude for the visit, acknowledging the emotional and moral support from his colleagues.
“I want to, on behalf of the entire Makinde family, sincerely thank you for this visit. Your presence means a lot to us in this moment of grief,” he said.
“We believed our eldest brother was just about to start a new phase of life at 65, settling down after years of hard work. However, we cannot question God. We must accept His will.
“This visit is particularly significant, especially with the presence of my brother, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, because despite our political differences, we have set politics aside to share in this moment.
“On behalf of the government and people of Oyo State, I deeply appreciate your visit. Our prayer is that none of us will have to reciprocate this kind of visit under such circumstances. We pray that our loved ones will live long and fulfill their destinies before they are called to rest.”
The condolence visit further strengthened the bond among the PDP governors as they rallied around their colleague in his time of loss.
