A former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has expressed profound sadness over the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
Kayode, a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), also paid glowing tributes to the deceased and asked global leaders to honour the Pope’s memory by recommitting to his vision of a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world.
He described the Pope’s demise as “an irreplaceable loss to the global Catholic community and humanity at large.”
Through the Fayemi Media Office, the former governor, a devoted Catholic, highlighted the late Pontiff’s transformative leadership and commitment to social justice.
On behalf of the former governor, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, head of the Fayemi Media Office in Abuja, said,
“It is with a heavy heart that I join millions of Catholics worldwide and people of goodwill across religious divides to mourn the passing of His Holiness, Pope Francis, whose life exemplified Christ’s teachings of love, compassion, and service to the least privileged among us.”
He reflected on Pope Francis’ legacy, noting that the Pontiff’s humility and courage in addressing contemporary challenges had repositioned the Catholic Church as a leading voice for the marginalised.
Fayemi added, “Pope Francis led the Church with humility and wisdom. His passionate advocacy for the poor, migrants, and environmental justice connected deeply with the faithful across Nigeria and Africa.
“As a Catholic and public servant, I found in Pope Francis a model of leadership that transcended religious boundaries. His emphasis on mercy and dialogue inspired many of us in public service to approach governance with greater empathy and attention to the vulnerable segments of society,” he said.
“While we mourn his physical departure, we celebrate a life well-lived in service to God and humanity. May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his powerful legacy continue to guide our collective journey toward a more compassionate global community,” he concluded.
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