Posted by By Sun News Publishing on
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday joined Vice President Jonathan Goodluck and several important dignitaries at the interdenominational funeral service held for the late first Minister of Information and legal icon, Chief Theopillus Owolabi Shobowale (TOS) Benson at the Ikorodu Town Hall in Ikorodu.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday joined Vice President Jonathan Goodluck and several important dignitaries at the interdenominational funeral service held for the late first Minister of Information and legal icon, Chief Theopillus Owolabi Shobowale (TOS) Benson at the Ikorodu Town Hall in Ikorodu.
In his tribute at the occasion, Governor Babatunde Fashola described late TOS Benson as a titan who lived his life for over nine decades and left indelible footprints on the sands of time.
He added that TOS Benson was a legal luminary, an intellectual giant, an unsparing polemist, a consummate legislator, a keen sports lover and a most accomplished Nigerian of this century.
In his words; 'He was a rib-cracking humorist, a social icon, a cultural symbol, a consistently charismatic and captivating personality who was indeed a man of great style".
His life symbolized an innate capacity for greatness possessed by all Nigerians as a people. It is an internal testimony of the seed of excellence that lies within each one of us waiting to be nurtured to fruition"
Fashola added that 'like salt, TOS Benson's life, added flavour to the society. Like the ageless honey, he enriched countless lives, like a proverbial lamp on the hill, his example shall shine down the ages showing the light for the present and future generations to find the way of courage, compassion and commitment"
Late TOS was a proud son of Ikorodu, who cherished and defended his state's interest, but was a common property of the Nigerian nation who was too urbane to play tribal politics, the Lagos State helmsman emphasized.
Vice President Jonathan Goodluck read the personal condolence letter of President Umaru Musa Yar'adua to the widow of Chief TOS Benson, Chief Mrs. Opral Benson at the funeral service praying that God grants the family the fortitude to bear the loss.
In his sermon, the Bishop, Professor Rufus Oguntuashe urged all men to approach their sojourn in life with goodness and carefulness as death can come calling at any unexpected time.
He likened a man's life to the example of power outages by the Power Holding Company, saying once the outages are effected our lives are recalled by the maker, waiting for the judgment day.
Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony are Former Governors Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, First lady, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, members of the State Executive Council, the Minister of Information, Mr. John Odey, members of the State House of Assembly, members of the National Assembly and several top government functionaries and dignitaries.