Ex-Ogun gov’s wife Onabanjo died; Tinubu, Abiodun mourn
FILE: Madam Lucia Onabanjo
Chief Olabisi Onabanjo governed Ogun State from 1979 to 1983.
President Bola Tinubu and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday mourned the passing of Madam Lucia Onabanjo, wife of Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, the first civilian governor of Ogun State. She died on Monday, January 11, 2026, at the age of 100.
Her daughter, Olubukunola Onabanjo, announced her mother’s death in a statement, describing the centenarian as “beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother” whose life was marked by love, faith, and strength. “We thank God for her long and fulfilled life, and for the enduring legacy she leaves behind.
May her soul rest in perfect peace,” the family said.
Chief Olabisi Onabanjo governed Ogun State from 1979 to 1983 and was a prominent journalist, renowned for his weekly column, Ayekooto, until his death in 1990.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Lucia Onabanjo’s unwavering support for her husband during his tenure as governor as “commendable” and lauded her interest in children’s welfare and the empowerment of women. He prayed that God would receive her soul and strengthen her family. The President further urged the Ogun State Government and the public to immortalise her legacy of compassion for the poor and vulnerable.
Governor Abiodun, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, described her death as “the end of a glorious era” and celebrated her life of devotion, faith, and service to humanity. “After a glorious epoch in which she joined her husband in the fight for democracy, the delivery of its dividends, and the advancement of human rights and social justice, Mama has now been reunited with Papa in glory,” the governor said.
Abiodun remembered her warmth, wise counsel, and unwavering support, noting that she nurtured children and grandchildren who have excelled across diverse fields. “We will miss her passion for progress and her prayers. May the good Lord grant her eternal rest in His bosom,” he added.
Lucia Onabanjo’s century-long life leaves a lasting imprint on Ogun State and Nigeria, embodying devotion to family, society, and the democratic ideals championed by her late husband.
