Index to Nigerian Newspapers

President Muhammadu Buhari, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have paid tribute to Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala, a former Governor of Oyo State, who passed away yesterday aged 71. Makinde abruptly ended the 2022 Inter-faith Prayer Service as the news broke, while Tinubu called for a minute's silence and condoled with the immediate family members of the former governor, his political associates and residents of the state. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chairman of South West Governors' Forum and Ondo State Governor, described the death of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala as a personal loss and urged family and associates to take solace in the good legacies he left behind. He commiserated with Governor Seyi Makinde, the government and people of Oyo State, friends, associates and admirers of the deceased politician, and his Ogun State counterpart, Adegboyega Oyetola, who described the death as a rude shock. Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, also expressed his condolences.

Tofa died yesterday at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano State, 29 years after losing his presidential bid to Chief Moshood Abiola. The Presidency, Northern groups and politicians have mourned the business tycoon, with President Muhammadu Buhari sending a delegation to Kano with a condolence letter to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. To honour Tofa, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has postponed its security summit scheduled for January 5 and 6, 2022. Mai Mala Buni, AREWA Consultative Forum (ACF) and Northern Speakers Forum (NSF) expressed sadness over the death of Tofa, a successful businessman from Kano and one of those who invested their time, energy and money to form ACF. ACF Spokesman Emmanuel Yawe said Tofa was peaceful and patriotic, while NSF Chairman Yusuf Zailani said he was a perfect gentleman. NEF's Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the North has lost an indefatigable defender of its dignity and values, Nigeria lost an illustrious son, and NEF lost a loyal founding member. APC chieftain, Prof. Vitalis Ajumbe, described Tofa as a man of peace, who believed in one Nigeria and good governance.