From Jude owuamanam, Managing Editor, Northern operations
JOS (Sundiata Post) – Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has said that the state government would give the family of the late Col Mohammed Inua Bawa, who was the first military administrator of Ekiti State N2.5 million every year for the next 10 years for the education of his children.
Bawa, who ruled Ekiti State between October 7, 1996 – August 1998, died on May 26 in Jos after an unsuccessful surgery.
Bawa was appointed the Administrator of Ekiti State by the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha and was later appointed administrator of Gombe State in August 1998. He handed over to the elected civilian governor in May 1999.
Fayose, who spoke when he, in company with Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, paid a condolence visit to the Bawa family in Rayfield area of Jos on Sunday, said that he would ensure that the gesture was gazetted so that any administration in the state would honour.
The governor described late Bawa as the pathfinder, who went the darkness to lay the foundation of the modern Ekiti State.
Fayose, while pledging that the government and people of Ekiti State would always stand by the family, said. “He was a good leader, a father and a pathfinder, who laid the foundation of modern Ekiti State. We will not forget his dedication and doggedness for the cause of the state. He was always in touch and his advice was invaluable”.
Fayose expressed regret that in recent times the state has lost notable people who have contributed to building the state – from former Governor of the old Western Region General Adeyinka Adebayo; the former Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade; first military administrator of Bayelsa State, Commodore Philip Ayen, who was an indigene of Ekiti State and now Bawa. The governor added that Ekiti State would not forget their contributions to the development of the state.
Also condoling with the family, Governor Simon Lalong, said that he was preparing to pay a visit when he learnt that Fayose was on his way and decided to wait to go with him. Lalong described Bawa’s death as a direct loss to the state.
He said that he was always in touch with Bawa as a regular member of the Jos Golf Club, and prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased and for God to
grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.