Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said at the night of tributes on Tuesday organised by the state government to honour the late Gboyega Soyannwo that his phones rang continuously on the day Mr Soyannwo died.
Soyannwo, the governor’s deputy chief of staff, died on May 15. He was aged 55.
Sanwo-Olu also said the deceased was a brother, an armour-bearer, a confidant and a faithful believer in the collective dream of a greater Lagos.
“Sister Kemi and Bunmi (referring to the deceased’s family members), God will be with you, you have not lost a brother, you have earned new friends and family members into the Soyannwo’s fold,” he said.
“He has earned it, he has worked tirelessly for it, he has kept faith, he has done more than what is expected of a 55-year-old, he has shown us that there’s a world for loyalty, he has shown us that there’s reward for hard work.
“The world stood still at about 3.30 p.m. on that fateful Wednesday, my phones were ringing non-stop, everybody was asking questions, all over the world, people were asking questions.
“The world knew that indeed a great man had fallen, a real Omoluabi (noble man) a wonderful husband and an outstanding father, a great brother.
“This is for us that are here to ask ‘When it is my own time, what will people say about me?’ We have the opportunity to make the right corrections.
“We still have the opportunity to assist that person, to make life meaningful for that person and not use our office recklessly, knowing full well that one day, we don’t know who’s next, we should strive to live well in fulfilment.”
In his welcome address, Sanwo-Olu’s chief of staff Tayo Ayinde described the deceased as a dedicated and committed official, with a noble character and generous spirit.
Also present at the event was Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, state executive council members, and Lagos APC chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi.
