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Tag: Borishade

  • Borishade, former minister buried

    The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, has warned political leaders against “reckless acquisition of wealth” and always remember the day of death.

    He gave the warning on yesterday at the funeral service held in honour of former Minister of Aviation, Prof. Babalola Borishade, at the Cathedral Church of St. Andrew in Usi-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    He said the massive poverty afflicting majority of Nigerians was caused by the foolishness and corruption of the leaders who mindlessly plundered the nation’s commonwealth at the expense of the masses who voted them into office.

    Borishade who also served as Minister of Education, Culture, National Orientation and Tourism and Minister of State for Power and Steel, died on April 26 in a London hospital. He was aged 71. His remains were interred at his residence shortly after the burial service.

    Okoh whose sermon was delivered on his behalf by the Archbishop of Ondo Province who also doubles as Bishop of Ondo Diocese, the Most Reverend George Lasebikan regretted the high level of corruption being perpetrated by political office holders.

    The cleric expressed sadness that rather than using their positions to better the lives of the masses, the political leaders live reckless lives without regard for death noting that “death shall surely end their lives regardless of whatever they used their positions to amass.”

    While calling on the nation’s leaders to live lives worthy of emulation, Okoh stressed that only what they do well in their lifetime would speak for them on the day of accountability after their demise.

    But the Primate commended the late Borishade for not abandoning his people in his lifetime and contributing meaningfully to the development of his church, hometown, state and the entire country he served diligently.

    Okoh said: “We have limited time to live on earth, so why amassing wealth at the expense of poor people. We all carried expiry dates. The sufferings of the masses today was caused by the foolishness of some few privileged Nigerians who plundered the commonwealth without thinking about the poor.

    “They exhibited larger than life attitudes. But they must realize that death is just a step away from them, so they must have a rethink so that they can have a memorable end like Prof Borisade.”

    “This man was a distinguished Nigerian,  a  man of no means reputation to his state, town, church and the entire nation. He shall be sorely missed by his admirers. He left indelible marks on the sand of time and in the hearts of his people as a generous statesman and confidant.

    “You must take a cue from his life. What would people say about you after death? Will they praise or curse you? Have you used your position to amass wealth at the expense of the populace? Whatever you do, the end shall come soon.”

    Some notable Nigerians who attended the burial include wife of former Vice President, Mrs. Titi Atiku Abubakar; Governor Ayo Fayose who was represented by his wife, Feyisetan; former Ekiti State Governor, Segun Oni; former Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala; former Ekiti Deputy Governors, Dr. Sikiru Lawal and Prof. Modupe Adelabu and Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu.

    Others are: Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi; Senate Committee Chairman on Air Force, Senator Duro Faseyi; Director General of National Council for Arts and Culture, Otunba Olusegun Runsewe; former Director General of Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Harold Demuren; National Examinations Council Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola.

  • Borishade for burial July

    Borishade for burial July

    The family of the late Minister of Education, Prof. Babalola Borishade, yesterday announced programmes for his funeral.

    A statement by Dr Lamide Borishade, on behalf of the family, said there will be a day of tributes in memory of the minister on July 4 at the Shehu Musa YarÁdua Centre, Central Business District (CBD), Abuja from 2.00p.m.

    The statement said there will be a commendation service on July 4 at his home, 108, Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi, Abuja from 7p.m. to 9p.m.

    It said on July 6, the funeral train will move to Usi-Ekiti in Ekiti State where the Age Grade (Elegbejegbe) Parade will hold from 10a.m. Later, there will be a night of tribute by Egbe Omo Usi, at St. Andrews Primary School ground from 7p.m to 11p.m.

    On July 7, a Christian wake will hold at the Federal Science and Technical College, Usi-Ekiti, at 7p.m.

    Funeral and outing service will take place on July 8 at 10a.m. at St. Andrews Cathedral (Anglican Communion) Ekiti-Oke Diocese, Usi-Ekiti, while internment follows.

     

     

  • Ex-Minister Borishade dies at 71

    Ex-Minister Borishade dies at 71

    Former Education Minister Prof. Babalola Borisade is dead. The Ekiti State-born educationist died in London. He was 71.

    A statement by the family in Usi-Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Olamide Borishade, said the late Borishade passed on after a brief illness.

    Borishade, a four time Minister was born in Usi-Ekiti on March 7, 1946, into the Ebi Ilotin family. He was an electrical engineer, a university teacher, an administrator and a politician.

    Borisade, popularly known as “Boris” in the political circles, was the Baba Isale of the Cathedral Church of St. Andrews, Usi-Ekiti, the seat of the Diocese of Ekiti Oke, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

    The late minister was rushed to a private hospital in Lagos last week from where he was flown to London for further treatment.

    Borisade, who served under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, held the portfolios of Aviation, Culture, Tourism and National Orientation.

    He was among the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) shortly before the 2015 general elections. Governor Ayodele Fayose described Borishade’s death as a great loss to the political class, the people of Ekiti State and the country in general.

    In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor described Borishade as a consistent politician who stood for what he believed in.

    The statement reads: “The death of Dr Babalola Borishade was not only sudden, but a rude shock. Our state and indeed our nation still expected a lot from him given his experience and wide network in the political circle. He served the nation in a number of capacities and was not found wanting.

    “We will miss him and the vacuum his demise has created would be difficult to fill. The government and people of Ekiti State commiserate with his family and the monarch and people of Usi-Ekiti, his hometown.

    “His place in the history of Ekiti and Nigeria is guaranteed and his invaluable contributions very much appreciated.”

    The local wing of the APC in Ekiti State yesterday mourned Borishade, saying the Fountain of Knowledge has lost an illustrious son.

    It’s Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, described Borisade as “a great man who touched many lives with the privileged positions he occupied in his lifetime.”

    Olatunbosun said: “He died in the United Kingdom. He was flown there sometimes last week. What I can say is that he was a great man who offered himself for national service.

    “He made contributions to democratic and national development. He was highly cerebral and an unassuming personality. He touched many lives with the privileged positions he occupied.

  • N5.2b ‘scam’: Borishade fails to stop trial

    Former Aviation Minister Babalola Aborishade failed yesterday in a bid to truncate his trial before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja.

    Aborishade is on trial with his ex-personal assistant, Tunde Dairo; ex-Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Rowland Iyayi; an Australian, George Eider and a firm, Avsatel Communications Limited.

    They were arraigned on November 19, 2009 for allegedly mismanaging a N5.2 billion Aviation Safe Tower contract.

    Yesterday, Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar refused an application by lawyers to Aborishade and others, Kehinde Ogunwumiju and Regina Okotie-Eboh that the case be struck out on the grounds that the prosecution was not diligent with the trial.

    Justice Umar held yesterday that the withdrawal of a private lawyer engaged to prosecute the case on behalf of the government did not constitute an abandonment or lack of appearance of the prosecution.

    He refused defence lawyers’ application that the court should foreclose or discharge the defendants.

    The judge ordered the prosecution to continue. New prosecution lawyer Chime Okoroma presented his 10th witness, Reuben Omonigho, an operative with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ogunwumiju objected, arguing that the witness had testified, saying it was defence turn to cross-examine him.

    The judge agreed, and later requested him to cross-examine the witness, a task he turned down and begged for time to prepare.

    Ogunwumiju said the court was yet to furnish him with its record of proceedings, which he had applied for.

    “We cannot afford to take chances with our own records, we need to be guided by the court”, Ogunwumiju said.

  • Aviation contract: Absence of counsel stalls Borishade’s trial

    The absence of defence counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), on Monday stalled hearing in a suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against a former Aviation Minister, Babalola Borishade and three others.

    At the resumed hearing, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Sebastian Hon, had told the court that Awomolo, who is the counsel to Timothy Dairo, a former personal assistant to Borisade, was absent in court.

    He told the court that he received a letter from Awomolo that he would be absent in court due to other matters.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that as a result of this, Justice Abubakar Umar, adjourned further hearing in the case to November 7.

    Borisade and Dairo are standing trial alongside Rowland Iyayi, a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, and George Eider, an Australian, for the alleged mismanagement of N5.2 billion Aviation Safe Tower contract.

    They were arraigned on November 19, 2009 by the EFCC on a 15-count charge of taking bribe and forging aviation contract documents.

     

     

  • Court orders Borishade, two others to appear Tuesday

    An Abuja High Court on Monday ordered Babalola Borishade, a former minister of Aviation to appear before it unfailingly on Tuesday.

    Justice Abubakar Umar gave the order, after Borishade, Tunde Dairo and Rowland Iyayi, a former managing director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency failed to attend their trial.

    When the matter was called at the resumed hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Counsel, Mr. Daniel Penda, told the court that the counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, had served him with a letter seeking for an adjournment.

     

    He said the adjournment was sought to allow Borishade attend the birthday ceremony of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

    Penda told the court that only the fourth accused, George Eider, the Managing Director, Avsatel Communications Limited, who is standing trial alongside Borisade, was in court.

    Umar, who frowned at the absence of the accused persons and their counsel, said they were disrespectful to the court.

    “The counsel should have come to court to explain the absence of the accused persons. But he chose not to.

    “This is highly disrespectful. I am ordering that the three accused persons and their counsel appear in court unfailingly on Tuesday, July 9,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the judge as saying on Monday.

    NAN reports that Borisade is standing trial alongside Iyayi, Dairo and Eider, an Australian over the alleged mismanagement of the N5.2 billion Aviation Safe Tower contract.

    They were arraigned by the EFCC on a 15-count charge of bribe-taking and forging aviation contract documents on November 19, 2009.