Friends and colleagues of Ogun State-born politician, Otunba Dipo Dina, who was murdered 10 years ago, gathered at the weekend in Lagos to celebrate him, describing him as a man with passion with genuine love for fellow human beings, even as they launched a foundation in his honour.

The friends and colleagues, including Senator Gbenga Obadara; Akin Fatuke; a real estate owner, Afolabi Odetunde; former chairman, Access Bank Plc., Mrs Mosun Bello Olusoga; Tokunbo Talabi, among others, were full of praises for the late Dina as they spoke about his life and times.

Obadara disclosed that he was the one that encouraged him to contest and become a senator of the Federal Republic, as part of their struggle to transform Ogun State for the better.

Speaking at the event which took place in Ikoyi, Senator Obadara, who recalled the period that Dina, himself and one other person spent in the trenches while engaging in political struggle for the sake of Ogun State, said it was difficult to describe the late accountant in the past, declaring that the deceased remained forever in the minds of many lives he had touched.

Obadara said Dipo was always committed and supportive and would not abandon one until success was attained, adding that: 'In the political circle, we call him Baba Alaanu.

'God endowed him with humility, you see some women are still crying because he had done well, he would live forever in the minds of people,' he said.

Talabi, in his own remark, said the event was organised essentially to thank God for the kind of life lived by the late politician, describing Dina as an embodiment of true and quality life, pointing out that as a politician, he was far more matured than his contemporaries.

'Dipo is an embodiment of true and quality life. He got here earlier than expected. He goes by different names. His political journey was longer than most of us saw, more mature than most of us. The advice we got from him is like the ones we got from our fathers. He always finds time for us,' he said.

'I want to thank God for his life, the effectiveness of his life,' Talabi said, even as he prayed that the reward of the good deed of late Dina would trail the wife, the children and the family he left behind.

Also speaking, former Access Bank chairman, Mrs Olusoga, described late Dina as a brother, who was not only focused and hard-working but also passionate in whatever he committed himself to do.

While praying that the children would reach higher than their father, she urged them to ensure they took care of their mother.

Odetunde, who doubled as Master of Ceremony (MC), described himself and the late politician as soul mates, asserting that Dina knew him more than anybody, even as he recalled that he got to know his wife through him.

Odetunde equally recalled that the late Dina, who he further described as a humanist, took very good care of his mother while he was abroad studying, saying he was always on a regular visit to her with gifts.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the event, Nike, wife of the late politician, said God had been gracious to the family in the last 10 years, just as she also acknowledged the supportive role played by friends all through time leading to the celebration.

She said the foundation would have its focus on education, commencing with proper teaching of Yoruba Language in schools in towns and rural areas, and thereafter applying it to other subjects, using e-education approach to secure proper understanding of the subjects.

'This will be done so that they (pupils) would be able to relate more and become more productive,' she said, promising that the foundation would also facilitate the building of libraries to encourage reading culture in the country.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan