First son of the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Babajide has died.
Jide, who sources say was hale and hearty, died suddenly of yet to be identified cause. “He was not sick. As at last night, he was full of life. But we leave everything to God,” the source said.
Confirming the tragic incident, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Henry Ajomale, however denied issuing any statement in that regard.
In a telephone chat with another newspaper, Ajomale said, “I can confirm to you that Asiwaju lost his oldest son today. However, I haven’t sent out any statement yet.
We in the APC condole with him.” In the statement which he has now disclaimed, Ajomale was said to have written in a statement that, “It’s with regrets that I inform you of the demise of Mr. Jide Tinubu, the son of our dear and esteemed leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Please commiserate with him.” Jide Tinubu, a Law graduate of the University of Liverpool, England, also holds a Masters degree in Maritime Law from the University of London.
Jide worked in the Legal Department of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited from January 2000 to September 2001. Prior to this, he had brief stints with Cargo Maritime, Paris, France, a firm of shipbrokers that specialise in petroleum product tankers, and Ocean and Oil Services Ltd.
He later served as Promoter of TSL Limited. Reacting to the development, the APC said it received the sad news of “the death of Jide Tinubu, the son of the former governor of Lagos State and the Party’s National Leader, H.E. Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with great shock and grief.”
The party in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, noted that “It is never easy losing a child or any loved one.
Indeed, it is hardest when they are taken from us too soon. Many who met the late Jide Tinubu, who was a lawyer, fondly described him as cerebral, industrious and full of life.
“In this moment of grief, the party offers its sincere condolence and deepest sympathy to His Excellency and other immediate family members over the painful loss.
May the outpouring of sympathy and the comfort in knowing that the late Jide’s death is felt by many, help the family through this difficult time,” the party said.
