Former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.); Vice President Kashim Shettima; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri; Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori; Chairman and Editor in Chief of THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, and other prominent Nigerians have condoled with Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Damian Dodo, 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. Other dignitaries who have commiserated with the Dodo family include former Senate President, David Mark; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama and 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 were also among the early sympathisers.
Some of the dignitaries have visited the family’s Maitama residence in Abuja, while others reached out through telephone calls and messages to express their condolences and pray for the repose of the deceased.
Shettima, while consoling the family, prayed for strength for the bereaved and eternal rest for the deceased.
“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.
Atiku, who also visited the family, said the condolence was over the “irreparable loss” of Dodo’s mother, praying that God would grant her eternal rest.
Former Senate President Mark, in his brief message, said, “Rest in peace, Mama,” while Wike prayed that the deceased would rest in the bosom of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dogara paid tribute to Mrs. Dodo’s contribution to the church and humanity, describing her passing as a loss while praying for her eternal rest.
“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.
Kaigama also recalled the support he received from Mrs. Dodo while serving as parish priest in Wukari, Taraba State, describing her as a pillar of support.
“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,” the Archbishop said.
Onaiyekan, in his tribute, said Mrs. Dodo’s life reflected perseverance and Christian faith, urging the family to draw comfort from the values she upheld.
The Cardinal said he was unable to visit personally because he was in New York for a global peace event and was scheduled to travel to Nairobi, Kenya, for another engagement before returning to Abuja on September 6.
Fintiri and Oborevwori also visited the bereaved family, where they offered their condolences to Dodo and other members of the family.
Other visitors included Akabe, former CJN Justice Mahmud Mohammed and former Inspector General of Police Abubakar, alongside several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, including Dr Alex Izinyon, former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Chief Godwin Obla, Chief A.T. Kehinde, Samuel Atung, Dr Joshua Musa and Audu Anuga.
Retired senior military officers, including former Chiefs of Defence Intelligence, AVM Monday Morgan (rtd.) and AVM Mohammed Usman (rtd.), as well as the Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force in Chad, Major General Saidu Audu, also paid condolence visits.
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 former Plateau State Deputy Governor and minister, Dame Pauline Tallen, were also among those who visited the family.
Meanwhile, the Taraba State Government has expressed grief over Mrs. Dodo’s death, describing it as a profound loss to her family, the state and those who knew her.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Reorientation, Zainab Jalingo, on behalf of Governor Agbu Kefas and the government and people of Taraba State, the state commiserated with Dodo, SAN, and the entire Dodo family.
The government described Mrs. Dodo as a woman of dignity, resilience, compassion and devotion to family and community, noting her role in raising a family whose contributions have positively influenced Taraba State and Nigeria.
It said her legacy would endure through the values she imparted to her children and succeeding generations, urging the family to draw strength from the remarkable life she lived.
“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 said.
The continued stream of condolences from political leaders, religious figures, judicial officers, senior lawyers, military commanders, public officials, friends and associates underscores the wide circle of relationships built by the Dodo family and the respect accorded the late Mrs. Veronica Rabi Dodo.