Frontline 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has expressed sadness over the death, on Sunday, of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadan, and on Monday, of one-time presidential candidate, Alhaji Bashir Tofa.

The former Senate President in a letter dated January 2, 2022 and addressed to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, conveyed his condolence “to your Excellency, the family of His Royal Majesty and the good people of Ibadan, my deepest condolences on this sad event.”

“Late Oba Adetunji was a patriotic Nigerian who was deeply committed to the peace, unity and development of our country.

“His nearly six years on the throne brought peace and great development to his kingdom and the entire Oyo state.

“His demise will be greatly felt as Oyo State and the country at large would miss his invaluable advice and wise counsel as the nation searches for solutions to her many challenges.

“I pray that the Lord will comfort his family and grant his soul eternal rest in His bosom,@ Anyim, a one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) wrote.

Similarly, Anyim said he “received with deep sorrow, news of the death of elder statesman and veteran politician, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa.”

A statement issued this afternoon by his Media Adviser Sam Nwaobasi said: “Sen. Anyim notes that the late Alhaji Bashir Tofa was a committed Nigerian who throughout his more than 40 years of active partisan politics demonstrated his strong belief in politics of accommodation and consensus building. He was so committed to a peaceful Nigeria that throughout the electioneering campaigns leading to the 1993 presidential elections, in which he was the candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Alhaji Tofa never did anything, in words or actions, that could have instigated crisis in any form.

“Sen. Anyim commends Alhaji Tofa’s ‘politics without bitterness’ and strongly recommends such disposition to politicians of today in the interest of the peace, unity and harmony of our dear country even as we approach the 2023 general elections.

“Sen Anyim regrets that Alhaji Tofa died when his experience and elderly counsel would be most needed as the country battles with multiple challenges.

Sen. Anyim deeply condoles with the late Alhaji Tofa’s family, the good people of Kano State and Alhaji Tofa’s many friends and associates all over Nigeria. He prays that Almighty God will grant the Soul of Alhaji Tofa eternal rest.”