By Toyin Olotuyemi, Abeokuta
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has expressed sadness over the death of Prince Bola Ajibola.
Osinbajo, speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta after the burial of the legal luminary said his personal interaction with the late legal chief as Special adviser would be indelible in his heart.
" Prince Bola Ajibola was someone I worked with as a special adviser when he was federal attorney general and one thing he demonstrated was his believe for Nigeria, and that one could serve in the public domain with integrity.
" I am sad that he is no more. As Segun, his first born has said that I am actually his first born. It's a great honor that I know him and he mentored me.
Also, the former Ogun state governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba has described the late prince Bola Ajibola as a passionate personality whose interest in education and law cannot be rivaled.
Osoba noted that Ajibola had to sell almost all his properties to set up a University, when the burden to contribute to the development of education in the country was rife.
"Ajibola was a thorough prince of Egbaland, who believes in the legacies of our forefathers.
"He invested everything he had into education and law in Egbaland, Nigeria and the World as judge of the world court in the Hague. We will miss him", he added
The Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun who was represented by her Deputy Governors Engr. Noimot Salako Oyedele describing the death of Prince Bola Ajibola as a big loss to the nation and it's judiciary, saying that his legacies in the judiciary, philanthropy and the educational development of Nigeria would never be forgotten.
Abiodun further described the legal icon's death as saddening, devastating and the end of an era.
This was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Sunday in Abeokuta.
“The death of this illustrious son of Ogun State, a celebrated jurist and judicial activist, public intellectual and elder statesman, is a severe blow to all of us who knew him
"Words cannot adequately convey my heartfelt sorrow over Papa’s death, for he was a kind and beautiful soul who spread love to all who encountered him", Abiodun said
The governor recalled that Prince Ajibola, after serving as President of the Nigerian Bar Association, also served as the nation’s Number One Law officer, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, before he answering the call of higher duties at the International Court of Justice, The Hague.
"He was a jewel of the Law Profession and an accomplished judicial officer of prodigious hue. Baba was a go-getter who delivered on any assignment committed to his hands because of his belief that service should always come first.
“Besides, he was a great religious influencer and philanthropist who established the faith-based Crescent University in his hometown, Abeokuta
The Vice Chancellor of Crescent University, Abeokuta, a tertiary institution founded by the late legal luminary, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila who eulogies the attributes of the founder, says that his investments in the education cannot be forgotten.
"It is indeed a sad occasion for the nation we have lost an icon, we have to remember the service the proprietor Ajibola has provided to the nation.
"When he retired at 70, was when he decided to found a university as he was concerned about the loss of our students especially those traveling abroad when there are opportunities here as well.
"The number of students capability at that time and totally caring capacity of universities was only 350,000, so, when his license for a university was able to proceed to found Crescent University as a way of assisting other private universities.
"We still have a challenge in terms of the number of students sitting JAMB, how he is always concerned about that and of course he was concerned about brain drain", the VC noted
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