Babangida, Shettima, Atiku, Fintiri, others mourn Dodo’s mother …..Obaigbena, Wike, Mark, Dogara, Kaigama, Onaiyekan, senior lawyers, military chiefs pay tribute

Former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.); Vice President Kashim Shettima; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri; Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; former Senate President, David Mark; and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have condoled with legal luminary, Damian Dodo (SAN), over the death of his mother, Mrs Veronica Rabi Dodo.

Mrs Dodo died on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the age of 81. She was born on November 29, 1944.

The death has continued to attract an outpouring of condolences from prominent Nigerians, including political leaders, senior lawyers, religious figures, retired military officers, members of the judiciary and public officials.

Among those who have reached out to the Dodo family are former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama; Cardinal John Onaiyekan; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Abubakar; Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe; and Senators Sanusi Daggash and Bashir Lado.

Several of the dignitaries have visited the Dodo family’s residence in Maitama, Abuja, while others conveyed their condolences through telephone calls and messages, praying for the repose of the deceased and strength for the bereaved family.

Shettima, in his condolence message, prayed for the peaceful repose of Mrs Dodo’s soul and divine strength for the family.

“May the soul of Mama rest in peace. And may God grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. Amin,” the Vice President said.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who also visited the family, expressed sympathy with Dodo over the loss of his mother.

“We have come to condole D. Dodo (SAN) on the irreparable loss of his Mum. May God grant her eternal rest. Amen,” Atiku said.

Former Senate President David Mark simply prayed: “Rest in peace, Mama.”

Wike also prayed for the deceased, saying: “Mama, we have faith that you will be resting in the bosom of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Former Speaker Yakubu Dogara paid tribute to Mrs Dodo’s contribution to the church and humanity.

“May Mama’s departed soul rest in perfect peace at the bosom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks for the impact on the church and humanity,” Dogara said.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama described the loss as monumental, recalling the support Mrs Dodo gave him while he served as parish priest in Wukari, Taraba State.

“The loss is monumental. Mrs Veronica Dodo was my great pillar of support in Wukari when I was Parish Priest. May she enjoy eternal rest,” Kaigama said.

Cardinal John Onaiyekan also joined the family’s friends, colleagues and associates in mourning Mrs Dodo. He described her life as one characterised by perseverance and faith.

He urged the family to draw comfort from her Christian life, saying she had “run a good race, fought the good fight and kept the faith.”

Onaiyekan explained that he could not visit the family personally because he was in New York attending a global peace event and was scheduled to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, for another engagement before returning to Abuja on September 6.

Adamawa Governor Umaru Fintiri and Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori were among the governors who visited the bereaved family to offer their condolences.

Also visiting were Nasarawa Deputy Governor Emmanuel Akabe; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed; and former Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Abubakar.

The Dodo family has equally received condolence visits from several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Dr Alex Izinyon; former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, M.B. Adoke; Chief Godwin Obla; Chief A.T. Kehinde; Samuel Atung; Dr Joshua Musa; and Audu Anuga.

Retired senior military officers who visited the family include former Chiefs of Defence Intelligence, AVM Monday Morgan (rtd.) and AVM Mohammed Usman (rtd.).

The Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force in Chad, Major-General Saidu Audu, also paid a condolence visit.

Other prominent Nigerians who have sympathised with the family include former Minister of Commerce, Ambassador Idris Waziri; Jerry Adams, former deputy governorship candidate to Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Vice Chancellor of Taraba State University, Prof. Sunday Bako; and Dame Pauline Tallen, former Deputy Governor of Plateau State and former minister.

Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government has mourned Mrs Dodo, describing her death as a profound loss to the family, the state and all those who knew her.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Re-orientation, Zainab Jalingo, on behalf of Governor Agbu Kefas and the government and people of Taraba State, the state extended its condolences to Dodo, SAN, and the entire Dodo family.

The government described the deceased as a woman whose life was marked by dignity, resilience, compassion and devotion to family and community values.

It also acknowledged her role in nurturing a family whose contributions have positively impacted Taraba State and Nigeria.

“The government notes that the passing of a mother is a profound loss, irrespective of age, and acknowledges the invaluable role Mrs Veronica Rabi Dodo played in nurturing a family whose contributions have positively impacted Taraba State and Nigeria,” the statement said.

According to the government, Mrs Dodo’s legacy would continue to be cherished by those who knew her, while the values she imparted to her children and succeeding generations would remain a source of strength and comfort to the bereaved family.

It urged the family to take solace in the remarkable life she lived and the enduring values she left behind.

“The government and people of Taraba State pray that Almighty God grants the Dodo family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and grants the departed eternal rest in His infinite mercy,” the statement added.

Mrs Dodo’s death has continued to draw condolences from across the country, with political leaders, religious authorities, members of the judiciary, senior lawyers, military officers, public officials, friends and associates joining the Dodo family in mourning and celebrating her life.