PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, on Wednesday, led other prominent Nigerians to condole with the Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, on the death of his wife, Clara, who died in Abuja late Tuesday after a protracted battle with breast cancer.



They all paid tributes to the late Mrs. Oshiomhole whom they described as a gentle and committed wife who stood by her husband while alive.



A statement by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Pally Iriase, said Mrs. Oshiomhole, 54, died at exactly 10.53pm on Tuesday.



Jonathan described the deceased woman as a heroine of justice and a strong supporter of the rule of law. He recalled her support for her husband through his days as a frontline labour activist.



The President’s wife bemoaned the demise of Mrs. Oshiomhole, saying it “came as a rude shock and becomes more painful knowing that she answered the glorious call home barely a week to her daughter’s wedding.”



Also on the roll call of sympathisers on Wednesday were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku; Senate President, David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun), Peter Obi (Anambra), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Ihedi Ohakim (Imo), among others.



Obasanjo, according to News Agency of Nigeria reports, described the death of Mrs. Oshiomhole as a “ big loss to the people of Edo State and Nigeria” and prayed that God “grants Governor Oshiomhole the fortitude to bear the loss and that God grants Mrs Oshimhole sweet repose.”



A statement by the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation quoted the former Vice President as saying, “We cannot forget in a hurry how this woman stood as a solid pillar behind her husband, the Governor, through his days as a frontline labour activist and through the struggle to reclaim his mandate freely given to him by the good people of Edo State”



Mark said the late Clara exhibited a high sense of courage and steadfastness in her husband’s struggles to bring development to Edo State.



In his condolence message to Oshimhole, Mark said, “I share in your pains and anguish at this moment. I can only advise that you take heart and accept this bereavement as an act of God. Mrs. Oshiomhole would surely be missed. But we are consoled by the fact that she left a very positive legacy worthy of emulation.”



Bankole expressed shock over the demise of Oshiomhole‘s wife.



He said, ”The incidences of cancer-related deaths in Nigeria have reached an alarming stage,” adding that it had become necessary for stakeholders in the health sector to create more awareness on the need for early detection of cancer, especially for women in the country.



Mimiko described the death of Mrs. Oshiomhole, who he described as “our wife” as a sad loss and condoled with Oshiomhole family and the people of Edo State over the unfortunate incident.



The governor said, “Our hearts go out to our brother and colleague, Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole at these dark hours following the demise of his darling wife and soul mate, Mrs. Clara Oshiomhole.



“We also commiserate with the entire people of Edo State, the Oshiomhole family and the children of the late Amason who stood by her husband in his struggle first for the emancipation and betterment of the nation’s workforce and later for the liberation of the people of Edo State from those who foisted themselves on the people by sheer brigandage.”



Daniel described the death of the late Edo State First lady as a huge loss to Edo State and to the entire women folk in Nigeria.



The Ogun State Governor said the death of the woman at this time had robbed Edo State of “an unassuming woman who demonstrated the fine qualities of a good wife and spent the better part of her life working for the good of the women folk.”



Obi said the death of Mrs. Oshiomhole was “a source of grief.” He said he received the news with regret and urged Oshiomhole to accept his sympathies on behalf of the Government and people of Anambra State.



Fayemi greeted Oshiomhole on behalf of the people of Ekiti State, saying he understood the pain of losing one’s better half.



The Delta State Government in its condolence message by the Commissioner of Information, Mr. Oma Djebah described the late woman as “ a pillar of strength and an unassuming lady whose humility will be surely missed by Comrade Governor Oshiomhole.”



The Action Congress of Nigeria said the news of the death hit the party with rude shock and sadness.



In a statement issued in Benin on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party hailed Governor Oshiomhole’s stoicism in the face of his wife’s illness and eventual death, and prayed that God would grant her eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear their irreparable loss.



“Despite the pain and the anxiety brought about by the illness, Governor Oshiomhole – true to his credentials – has been devoting so much time to governance and the people, while also taking time to care for his darling wife.



“He could have easily used the illness as a reason to abandon his post or jet abroad at the slightest opportunity, but he was able to strike a fair balance between the demand of his high office and the need to be by his wife at her moment of need.”



Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, also commiserated with Oshiomhole and the entire state over the demise of Clara.



Preparation was already at an advanced stage for the traditional wedding ceremony of the first family’s second child, Jane, on Saturday, before the sad news of Mrs. Oshiomhole.



Also, Action Congress of Nigeria Chairman in the state, Chief John Oyegun, Tony Omoaghe, and Chief David Edebiri, the Esogban of Benin Kingdom were some of the eminent personalities that condoled with the Oshiomholes on Wednesday.



The Governors’ Forum noted with nostalgic the roles played by the deceased in the life of her husband when he was the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the “titanic” battle waged by the governor to reclaim his mandate as governor of Edo State.



In the Forum’s condolence message signed by its Director-General, Mr. Asishana Okauru, Clara was commended for her commitment to her husband. “As First Lady of Edo State, she discharged her duties creditably and was as committed as her husband to the transformation of the State,” the statement said.



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