test

<?php
public function edit($message ='')
{
$data['error_message'] = $message;
$this->load->view('asfsd/sadfasdf/sadfsdf',$data)
{

public function add($message = '')
{
$data['error_message'] = $message;
$this->load->view('asfsd/sadfasdf/sadfsdf',$data)
}

public function index(){
if($this->form_validation->run() == FALSE){
    $message = '<div class='error'>there was an error</div>';
    $this->add($message);
}else{
    if($this->model->update_this() == FALSE){
    $message = '<div class='error'>there was an error</div>';
    $this->add($message);
    }
}

}

// view

if(isset($message)) echo $message;