BY BRIGHT JACOB
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Sunday, commiserated with the Nelson family on the demise of a frontline politician and advocate of the womenfolk, Kemi Nelson.
Nelson, a former Executive Director of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund and ex-South West Zonal Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, died on Sunday at the age of 66.
The President also sent condolences to the government and people of Lagos State, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Lagos APC family on the loss of “a consistent and faithful party member who devoted so much to the evolution, development, sustenance and relevance of the party in Lagos and around the country.”
Buhari, in a statement on Sunday by one of his media aides, Garba Shehu, noted the contributions of Nelson as a former Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos State, the State Women Leader, National Deputy Women Leader of APC, and former Executive Director of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund, remarking that she was such a grassroots mobiliser and an achiever who left her footprints wherever she served.
“As the only female member of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Kemi Nelson continued to be part of the governance structure that led to the transformation of Lagos State into the Centre of Excellence it has become,” he said.
The President prayed that almighty God will grant the husband, Adeyemi Nelson and the family, friends and associates of the deceased, the fortitude to bear the loss and repose her soul.
Also, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of Nelson.
Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Sunday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, described the death of Nelson as a great loss to Lagos State, especially the ruling party, considering her unique position as one of the great mobilisers in the party.
The Governor described the late Lagos APC Women Leader as a “passionate, trustworthy, committed, extremely loyal politician, leader, women advocate and an invaluable asset to APC and Lagos State.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu said “The death of Chief (Mrs) Kemi Nelson is a painful and big loss to me personally. It is also a great loss to the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), our party, APC, the deceased family and friends.
“I am saddened by the passing of this indefatigable, devoted, loyal, committed, progressive democrat and team player who played remarkable roles in the success of our party at the state, zonal and national levels during her lifetime.
“Chief Kemi Nelson as a consummate politician and committed leader of her people, especially women, contributed immensely to the growth and development of our great party as APC Women Leader in Lagos and South-West. She also did her best for our dear Lagos State during her tenure as Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
“She will be missed dearly by her family, friends and the entire political class, particularly GAC, chieftains and members of the ruling party across Lagos State and Nigeria.
“I pray that God would grant the soul of our beloved GAC member, Chief Kemi Nelson, eternal rest and comfort to the immediate and political family she left behind.”
