President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday described the death of Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas as a big loss to the country.
A statement signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Reuben Abati said Jonathan extends sincere condolences to members of Chief Okoya-Thomas’ family as well as his friends, associates, business partners within and outside Nigeria, and the people of Lagos where he held the traditional title of Asoju-Oba.
“The President shares their pain and sorrow as they mourn the late Chief Okoya-Thomas who was also honoured in his lifetime with the traditional titles of Odofin of Ile-Ife and Bobasuwa of Ijebu-Remo.
“President Jonathan urges members of the Okoya-Thomas family and all others who mourn the very successful businessman to be comforted by the knowledge that he lived a very worthy and fulfilled life, and left a legacy of great entrepreneurial achievements for his successors to build on.
“The President believes that Chief Okoya-Thomas will also be long remembered and honoured as a very generous philanthropist and sports enthusiast who established the popular Asoju-Oba Table Tennis Championships.
“President Jonathan prays that God Almighty will grant Chief Okoya-Thomas’ soul peaceful and eternal rest,” Abati’s statement said.
Atiku, in a press statement by his media office in Abuja noted that the late Okoya-Thomas was a visionary and astute businessman whose contribution to Nigeria’s private sector economy will remain indelible.
“Although the late Molade Okoya-Thomas left the stage at a prime age of 79, his death nonetheless is a huge blow to the community of businessmen in Nigeria.
“He was a pioneer and a visionary. Okoya-Thomas belonged to a generation of private sector investors who saw opportunities in making investments in the economy when it was risky to do so.
“His legacies will remain indelible in corporate Nigeria and I pray God will grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.”
