- By Prince Orisalade Adetunji Taiwo
Nigeria, of late is rife with the News that one ILERIOLUWA OLADIMEJI ALOBA, born on the late of June, 1996 in Lagos and known professionally as MOHBAD is dead. This is no news again! That he was a known cum adored Rapper and Singer on the Nigerian Musical Landscape is also no news again. That he was formerly signed to Naira Marley’s Marlian Records and left the Label in 2022 is equally no news again. That he died on the 12th day of September, 202 at a Hospital in Lagos and was hurriedly buried is no longer news as well.
What is news now is that even after being laid to rest, MOHBAD had refused to sleep, not to talk of sleeping or resting well in the Grave. The Corpse had, of course, been exhumed for Police Investigations.
And equally of news is that:
MOHBAD had a troubled upbringing
MOHBAD had to struggle with life and didn’t live his real dream out.
MOHBAD was left off alone and not supported y the Parents, Friends and the Society at Large.
MOHBAD, in the journey to Greatness was left to walk alone and uncared for
MOHBAD, after exhibiting signs of Stardom, was not properly managed.
The summary of it all was that MOHBAD was wasted by an uncaring and unorganized Society.
It however constitutes a very great irony that the Crowd now milling all over and pretending to love the Master Rapper and Singer, after his unfortunate death, all clearly abandoned him when he needed them most. And now that he is gone, crocodile Tears swell all over.
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Though, I am not particularly happy and am greatly saddened by the circumstances surrounding his death and hurried burial, I shall however leave the Police and the Government to unravel all issues still shrouded in mystery concerning same. However, by some dint of experience, I shall advice that the searchlights should be propped up and beamed to include interviews with his immediate family, Asssociates alongside pointed opposition figures and more especially those with him during the last moments of his life. His invitation and visit, if any, at any time, to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) ought to be investigated alongside the circumstances surrounding the Announcement of his death. The question is who took him to the Hospital on his last day? Who attended to him and later pronounced him dead? Before whom? And upon what diagnosis?
And another great question is concerning the bleeding found in his Coffin after the exhumation. I do fervently hope that the samples have been taken by the Police and Health Officials who accompanied them for further investigation as well. We seriously await a very conclusive result from this inquiry.
Quite apart from the issues raised above, the most important aspect of the MOHBAD Saga is the State of our Society and the role it had played in the loss of this Maestro. He wouldn’t have been lost so soon and in the manner of loss if our Society had played the role naturally and constitutionally assigned to it.
Nigeria, as a Society, is expected to be a caring one, treating its Citizens with equal dignity and respect. She ought to be looking after them in a manner that no one is discriminated against alongside granting them unhindered access to basic goods and services to ensure a healthy co-existence.
Traditionally, the old Nigerian Society was in the habit of providing all the above, until civilization and modernization sets in. The average Nigerian had now stopped been his Brother’s keeper. The family set-up is now terribly disunited and there comes in an unhealthy rivalry amongst folks for prominence in the Society, not caring what happens to the closest brother or sister in the journey of life. The Parents have been so emasculated economically to the extent that they are unable to provide the basic needs at home and the children are left to fend for themselves. The family Set-up is not placed in a better setting as it no longer stands in the gap to shield its members from the excruciating pains arising from an uncaring Society. It, too, lacks any power to provide succour. The Almighty Government too is in no better position. It is perpetually hindered from providing the needs of her people on account of bad Leadership.
•Rt. Hon Prince Orisalade Adetunji Taiwo (ODOROYE) is a legal practitioner.