The Nation Newspaper

Tag: death

  • Deaths at my backyard and elsewhere

    Death is a grim reaper indeed. The evening of last Tuesday brought it home. It was the day, 14 persons got drowned in the canal, just behind my residence in Festac Town, in Amuwo-Odofin Lagos. The wailing and anguish of the bereaved continually pierced the soul. While the survivors were angst, our neighborhood was thoroughly traumatized. Nothing prepared the victims for this final journey. After all, it was too short, to portend any danger. A less than 10 metres boat ride. Same week, in far away Kaduna, death reaped 100 peasant souls. Also in Kastina, while President Goodluck Jonathan and his hosts were at a state banquet, death was also feasting not far off. Across the cities of Abuja, Port Harcourt, Minna and Benin, 19 job seekers, got gruesome immigration passports to eternity.

    The Amuwo-Odofin deaths stole into our evening. It was around 7.30 pm. I had just returned from work about 20 minutes earlier, when I heard my neighbour, shouting to my wife, that there has been a boat accident at the canal. Exhausted from the day’s work, I reluctantly got into my shots, and walked out to the gate and towards the canal. I was shocked to see a restive crowd amassed at the bank of the canal, gawking at the dark brackish water that should have been a clean and leisure inland water way. On enquiry, I was told that the dark bowels of the canal had few minutes ago swallowed a boat filled with about 20 plus, men, women and children.

    In the pandemonium, I shouted to who ever cared to listen, if you have the numbers of the local government officials and emergency authorities, please call them and report the accident. After a while, I moved farther off the smelly and mosquito infested water way, and leaned on a parked car, with my neigbour in complete helpless indignation. Just then, one of the distraught survivors, who had swam to safety, sauntered towards us. He queried, “What will I tell his parents?” “What will I say happened to him?” Sensing our confusion, he explained. “My apprentice was in that boat. We just finished work at the 6th avenue and were going home. He couldn’t make it, and I didn’t see him to help him. I am in trouble”.

    Seeing his pain, and helpless at his loss, I offered my inconsequential condolence, thus. “This tragedy will be in the papers and television tomorrow. His parents will see for themselves that it was an accident, and that you couldn’t do anything to save him. Please take heart. God who allowed it to happen knows everything”. My neighbour also offered similar sentiments, while the poor soul sauntered on. Nearby, a young lady who survived the tragic encounter was telling another standby, “That boat was overloaded and I told them so, but they refused to listen. Anyway, thank God I made it”. When later people who looked like local council officials walked pass, towards the canal, I shouted, please can you organize flood lights. Some of the victims may still be alive. Please do something. Not long after, emergency officials and the Council Chairman, Comrade Ayodele, arrived and help was underway.

    But I have since been asking myself, why we leave such a cheap life? Having lived in the neighbourhood for some years, I have always wandered why should such an ingeniously manmade canal designed for the residents of the housing estate as a means of water transportation and leisure become such an impregnable miasma of water borne diseases. One of the local divers, who helped to rescue the six lucky chaps, had succinctly described the canal. In relaying his efforts, he had said, “You know that water is very thick. You need a lot of power to swim through the water. That is why many people couldn’t make it”. What made the water in the canal become thick and substantially stagnant, one may ask.

    The major culprits are the bandits that have turned the canal to a route for illegal oil bunkering. It is the waste from their illegal trade that turned the water to thick layers of dark brackish water. The next group is the security agencies who have failed to stop them. Some distraught bystanders last Tuesday claimed that there is even official connivance or condonation. Of course the official owners of the Estate, the Federal Housing Authority, only exist to extort all manner of development charges from the residents. Yet, but for the local council authority, the entire road network in the community would have remained impassable. While the official fees for a property in the Estate costs an arm and a leg, including ubiquitous development charges, I have never in the past decade seen the Housing Authority maintaining or redeveloping the originally well made drains, pavements, roads and other infrastructure.

    As reported by this paper last Friday, the beloved mother of one of the victims of the Amuwo Odofin 14, Festus Okunbor, an Information Technology specialist, while wailing uncontrollably over her loss, rhetorically asked, “Who will look after me and do the things he has been doing for me”? I also ask who will restore the glory of the famous Festival Town, also known as FESTAC town. Who will restore this unintended death bed, called Canal, to its original use, as designed by the builders of the Festival Town? Even more poignant now, who will stop the nation-wide bleeding across Nigeria? Who will clean the national shame foisted on us, by an unprecedented national ineptitude, the most recent being the shame called employment process by the disgraceful Ministry of Internal Affairs, headed by one Abba Moro. Who will save our youths from deaths, arms and unemployment? Who will save Nigeria?

    For comments: 08033054939 (sms only).

  • Mystery over law student’s death

    Mystery over law student’s death

    How did Oladipupo Maranantha Ige die? This is the puzzle students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, could not unravel last week when news of the rumoured suicide of the 400-Level Law student broke. OLUWAFEMI OGUNJOBI (400-Level Language Arts) reports.

    “By the time you read this, I would have been dead.” That was the text the late Oladipupo Ige allegedly sent to his mother’s mobile phone on that fateful day.

    His mother, it was learnt, did not get the text in time because her phone was off. Several minutes later, Oladipupo was found dead in his room. He allegedly committed suicide.

    The incident happened last week in Asherifa Hostel, opposite the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State. The late Oladipupo was a 400-Level Law student.

    But the police disagreed with the suicide theory. The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Folashade Odoro, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the student died of “stomach ache”.

    Students besieged the hostel, following the news of Oladipupo’s death. The late student reportedly left a written statement detailing how his properties should be shared. His books should be buried with him, he was said to have written.

    The late Oladipupo, who was in his early 20s, reportedly left for his hostel on Friday without telling his neighbours where he was going. He returned in the evening of the following day, after which he composed the text he sent to his parents.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that when his mother got the text around 10pm, she called Bola Okiji, the late Oladipupo’s close friend and classmate. Okiji was said not to have been around at the time. Mrs Ige then sent a woman living around the school to check on her son.

    On getting to the late Oladipupo’s hostel, the door was found locked from behind. When the woman peeped through the door, she reportedly saw the late Ige’s body dangling. She alerted other occupants and they broke into the deceased’s room.

    When our correspondent visited the house, the neighbours declined to speak. One of them, who did not want her name in print, said: “Lately, Oladipupo had been doing weird things; at times, he would wake up in the midnight and start washing the toilet. Sometimes, he would be banging his door at midnight.”

    Emmanuella Odum, the deceased’s friend, described his death as unimaginable. “We still played together on Friday after lectures, before he left the campus. Why he contemplated suicide is what I cannot explain,” she said.

    Okiji described the late Oladipupo as a brilliant student, who could have graduated with a Second Class (Upper Division). Okiji said his friend could not have committed suicide for academic reason.

    Last Sunday, the late Oladipupo’s parents conveyed his remains to their Iree, Osun State hometown.

    When our correspondent visited the Law Faculty, his classmates were seen discussing in hushed tones. “He was a recluse and kept to himself; he never talked to anyone. When I go to read at the faculty, he would be seen at dark spots, staring into space. At times, he would question the existence of God. I think he had a weird personality,” a classmate said.

    Ayotola Tehingbola, in an article published on the faculty’s notice board, described Oladipupo’s death as shocking. She wondered why the deceased would contemplate suicide, noting: “Oladipupo, I don’t know what went through your head in the last few hours of your life, but I am sorry that you saw life as not being worth it. I cannot begin to imagine the fear and hopelessness you felt in the last hour of your life.

    “I met Oladipupo on my matriculation day. His dad and my dad worked in the same company at that time; so it was sensible for us to meet. I vividly remember the last time I spoke to him, just before the Nigeria University Games (NUGA) began. We stood, laughed, argued and scribbled in front of Auditorium II.”

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole, has condoled with the bereaved family, saying the institution shared in its grief.

    There are insinuations that the late Oladipupo may have died of bipolar disorder – acute depression. But the police said the deceased called a friend, identified as Olajuwon, moments before his death. He was said to have complained of stomach ache. According to the police, Oladipupo died before Olajuwon reached him.

     

  • Hammani Tijani’s death

    Hammani Tijani’s death

    • The story highlights the conflict in our federal system

    The tragic events of over a decade ago which involved an alleged notorious trans-border criminal, Hamani Tijani, came to an anti-climax this week. Mr. Tijani, a citizen of Niger Republic, was convicted after standing trial at a Lagos High Court, on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery and receiving stolen goods. He died at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, a Federal Government penitentiary, after suffering stroke for nine months. According to the prison spokesman, Mr. Biyi Jeje, the detainee died in the prison’s clinic.

    Mr. Tijani’s alleged criminal exploits caused a serious brouhaha between Benin Republic and Nigeria in 2003; and the common believe was that his trial would be expeditious, with a likelihood of conviction. Indeed, he was believed to be responsible for the attack on the first daughter of then President Olusegun Obasanjo, Ms Iyabo Obasanjo, who was an official of the Ogun State government. Then, the allegation that a trans-border criminal who had been terrorising Nigerians was hiding in Benin Republic mobilised the public, and following threats from Nigeria, Mr. Tijani was quickly handed over to Nigeria, and ever since he has been on trial.

    The unfortunate death of Mr. Tijani serving a 10-year jail term has again raised questions about our criminal justice system. Here was an alleged inter-state offender, undergoing trial under the criminal laws of Lagos State, but was incarcerated in a federal prison. The result is that the inefficiency of either the federal or the state institution may have rubbed off on the other. This constitutionally guaranteed incongruity mostly results in bickering, instead of collaboration. Now, following Mr. Tijani’s death, the prison authority is seeking to push the blame for an alleged lack of adequate care on the Lagos State government. But even the report from the prison authority indicates that while the man suffered stroke nine months ago, Lagos State was only informed one month ago.

    This tragedy also underscores another challenge in the trial of criminal offenders, under the present criminal justice system. While the Lagos State High Court could be responsible for the delay in the trial when the matter was hanging; it must be appreciated that the court and the prosecution must however rely on the forensic evidence as produced by the police, a Federal Government-controlled institution. So, if in the cause of investigation, the police were tardy, then the prosecution may have turned a nightmare for the prosecutor and the court. Here again, any inefficiency by one institution rubs off on the other.

    In Mr. Tijani’s case, his legal defence still said till his last breath that he was innocent on the principle of law. Yet for many of them, Mr. Tijani, based on the claims by the police authority way back in 2013, was a guilty man.

    Even more painful is that the victims of the crime have been deprived of justice. In the face of a trial of Mr. Tijani, whether conclusive or not, can there be a closure that justice has been done in the case? Even if the person is dead, does that bring back the lives and dignity of those who were victims?

    Because of the nature of his crime, it had a diplomatic ring. The former Inspector-General, Tafa Balogun, had to make public narratives about the trajectory and devilry of his escapades. President Obasonjo had to intervene and called for his arrest, and the force of the police was mobilised to nab him. The border between Nigeria and Benin Republic was closed and it took the appeal of the Beninois leader Mathieu Kerekou for the border to reopen.

  • Arochukwu death trap

    Arochukwu death trap

    The road to Arochukwu does great injustice to the larger-than-life image of this historic town in Abia State.

    The town is known for many things. One cannot say it is the most important community in the state. But it is indisputably the most important as far as tourism is concerned, and not only in Abia State but the entire Igbo land.

    This is because of the role the town played during and after the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. The Aro, then, were the sole organisers of the trade in Southeast of Nigeria which then stretched from Idoma land down to the Niger Delta.

    Their influence was felt all over these areas as they were the major suppliers of the “product”. They were in constant contact with the Potokiri (Portuguese) who were the real slave dealers.

    But the people and the town were subjugated by the British after a large-scale war that was fought throughout Igbo land and beyond between 1902 and 1904. It was tagged The Aro Expedition of 1902. The influence of the Aro throughout Igbo land and beyond; which spanned over 500 years, came to abrupt end after that subjugation.

    The Aro had to turn to other means of livelihood. They embraced Christianity and western education. And they have excelled in all aspects of life. The first Igbo graduate, the late Dr. Alvan Ikoku hailed from Arochukwu.

    Ikoku was also the first President of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). The first Igbo Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Nwakanma Okoro hailed from Arochukwu. Okoro was also the first man east of the Niger to lead the Nigerian Bar Association and the first Nigerian to have a PhD in Law. There was Christian Nwafor, the first architect east of the Niger. These are just the first known at the time of writing this report.

    Arochukwu has notable Nigerians present and past who have contributed in all aspects of national life–politics, government, business, medicine, journalism and sports, among others.

    The roll-call include Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Mazi Ukpabi Ukpabi, Mazi Alex Oti, MD Diamond Bank, Prof. Mark Chijioke founder of Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Kanu Nwankwo the football prodigy and Chidi Imoh the 100 metres champion.

    It produced the likes of late Mazi Sam Ikoku, the late Sir Alex Onyeador who is the first Nigerian to be a manager with Shell, the late John Onyeador who was the first captain of the national football team after independence.

    Arochukwu is the ancestral home of the crusader of boycott all the boycottables, the late Mazi Mbonu Ojike, the timber and caliber politician, the late Dr. K. O. Mbadiwe, the palm produce merchant, the late Chief L. N. Obioha, the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Humphrey Nwosu, the renowned author and human rights activist, Dr. Arthur Nwankwo, Prof. Anezi Okoro and Prof. Pita Nwanna, among others.

    But today, as important as the town Arochukwu is to Igbo land and Nigeria in terms of tourism, there is no passable road to it. The road that leads to the town from the Abia State capital, Umuahia, ended at Ohafia.

    Described as the worst road in Africa by road users, the Ohafia-Arochukwu Federal Road cannot be less described. The road has suffered neglect since the end of the Nigerian civil war 44 years ago. The road, stretching about 40 kilometres covers five communities of Arochukwu, the historical town hosting many tourists centres; Ututu, Ihechiowa, Isu and Abam, all of which are agrarian communities in Abia State.

    In normal circumstances, the journey from Ohafia to Arochukwu will not be more than 30 minutes. But, with the present deplorable condition of the road, there is no way a vehicle can make it in less than two hours.

    The plight of the communities was almost under check before the advent of Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in 1999. Before then, the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) had awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the road from Umuahia to cover the stretch to Arochukwu and Ikot-Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State.

    Work started in earnest and progressed from Umuahia to Ohafia, a stretch of about 70 kilometres when Obasanjo assumed office. Obasanjo scrapped the PTF and all its responsibilities transferred to the Federal Ministry of Works.

    That singular action brought an end to the construction of that road up till this day. And 12 years after, the remaining section of the road from Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Army Barracks, Ohafia to Arochukwu and Ikot-Ekpene has remained untouched. The road caves in to the crushing weight of floodgates of every rainy season.

    To be fair to Obasanjo’s administration, the rehabilitation of the remaining portion of the road was re-awarded to Julius Berger Construction Company. At a time, the company started moving in their equipment to the area. There were jubilations by members of the communities. These equipment remained there unused for years. And after sometime, the company retrieved their equipment from the site.

    What went wrong remains a matter of speculation. The road was consistently included in the budgets of 2002 to 2007. It was learnt from a reliable source that mobilisation fee of N1.4 billion was released for commencement of work.

    The total cost of work on the road was put at N4.8 billion. But that money never got to the construction company. The company tried as much to get the money but all to no avail. Hence, it pulled out of the site.

    Nobody could give hint of what happened to the mobilisation fee up till this day. The representatives of the area at the National Assembly at the time were Comrade Uche Chukwumerije of Abia North Senatorial zone and Mazi M. A. O. Ohuabunwa who represented Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency.

    While Ohuabunwa is no longer there, Chukwumerije is still at the Senate. It is on record that Ohuabunwa tried as much to see that the road was fixed, but his lone efforts could not yield any result.

    The current representative of the area in the Federal House of Representatives, Prince Arua Arunsi, our correspondent learnt, is on the neck of the contractors. He had expressed displeasure over the “virtually abandoned work on the road.”

    The Abia State government had wanted to fix the road, but was prevented by the Federal Ministry of Works. The government had, indeed, mounted its sign post and started work but were “driven” away by the Federal Ministry of Works.

    Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji once told this reporter that “I cannot imagine why a town as important as Arochukwu will not have a road to access it. This is disturbing. I have begged the Federal Ministry of Works to allow us enter the road, they refused. I don’t know why. They say they have awarded it to a company but there is no progress at all.”

    Actually, the contract for the rehabilitation of the road has been re-awarded to a construction company. But the snag there is the capability of the company to handle the road reconstruction effectively.

    For the past two years the company started work on the road, it has not done up to three kilometres. It had blamed the rainy season for the slow pace of work. But since the rain subsided, the story remains the same.

    When South-East Report visited the site, no work was going on. But there were some equipment lying idle while motorists struggle to find their way through the rough road. The road is expected to be completed by June this year. Although the construction company has formally apologised to the people of Arochukwu for its lackluster approach, it promised to complete work on the road as scheduled. It is doubtful that it can fulfill their promise going by what is on ground.

    An official of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had told this reporter that they cannot intervene on the road because it is still under “reconstruction” by the contractors of the Federal Ministry of Works.

    He said: “It is only when they complete work on it that we will take over for maintenance.” But the baffling thing is that the signpost of FERMA is mounted at various points on the road.

    A community leader of the area who wouldn’t want his name in print said: “Our representatives in the National Assembly should explain to us what is happening to that road since 1999. They gave us hope that they would tackle the issue of the road head-on. But, up till now, nothing has been done about it.”

    As a result of the incredible condition of the road, transporters charge as much as N700 from Ohafia to Arochukwu. This would have normally cost N100. Commercial farmers in the area no longer produce enough for export to the cities as vehicles that would convey them are no longer willing to ply the road. They have now resorted to subsistence farming to sustain their families.

  • Woman dies in governor’s office

    Havoc struck today when a 46 year old woman, identified as Hajiya Belkisu Mahmoud suddenly slumped and died in the office of the Niger state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

    It was gathered that the woman a mother of three had waited several hours to see the governor but was denied access to see the governor who was said to have a lot of files to treat due to the New Year break but shortly after she was ushered into the governor’s office that she slump.

    Source in the governor’s office who spoke in confidence said the woman who was suspected to be asthmatic was immediately rushed to the Minna General Hospital where Doctor confirmed her dead.

    Our source said that the woman who was on a private visit  was delayed in the waiting hall because her name was not on the approved protocol list of those to see the governor, but being a former staff officer (SO) in the Deputy Governor’s office.

    There is no official statement from the government as at the time of filing this report but the governor was said to have hurriedly left office after the incident.

    Doctors at the Minna General Hospital also refused to comment on the incident as they all kept sealed lips and avoided efforts to get them to comment.

  • Tension as NOUN student found dead inside his room

    There is tension in Nnobi and environs following the sudden death of an Okada operator Uchenna Omeh reportedly found dead in his room in Ifite village Nnobi community Anambra State three days after he was released from police detention.
    But the Police Pubic Relations Officer (PPRO)  Emeka Chukwuemeka said unofficial reports had it that the man committed suicide but assured that he was yet to get the official report on the matter.
    “I have not been briefed officially on the matter but an unofficial report had it that the man committed suicide. When I am briefed I will tell you’’.
    At the scene of the incident, Omeh’s body has been removed, and the door to his room shut with all members of the compound on the run for fear of being arrested by the police to explain what they know on the incident.
    Late Omeh was also a palm fruit cutter and a student of National Open University, according to neighbours died three days after he was released from police cell under mysterious circumstances
    Omeh was a native of Abakaliki in Ebonyi State. He was said to be having a running battle with the brother of his landlord identified as Ifeanyi Nsofor before his sudden death yesterday.
    His legs were said to have been burnt severely and his body bruised even as his hands were resting as if he was battling to free himself from unseen assailants.
    His dead body was found dangling from a rope tied to the ceiling in his room at Nsofor’s Compound in Ifite Nnobi where he lives even as it was said that prior to his death Omeh and Ifeanyi had a bitter quarrel over the burning of refuse close to his window by Ifeanyi ‘s wife which allegedly made Ifeanyi to invite the police to arrest him.
    After the alleged arrest and detention, late Omeh was released Wednesday and was last seen Friday evening after taking his bath and going into his room but never woke until yesterday the alarm was raised about his lifeless body.
    But the late Omeh’s landlord brother Ifeanyi Nsofor admitted having problem with the late Omeh which led him to invite the police to arrest Omeh, explaining that he involved the police because of threat from the deceased to kill him with a cutlass.
    His words, “Yes we had a quarrel over burning of refuse. He went and carried a cutlass and threatened to kill me. I took his photograph and went to invite the police .He was arrested on Wednesday and released on Friday. I was not at home when it happened. I heard he hanged himself”, Nsofor said

  • Iyayi: Death most unfortunate, avoidable

    SIR: On Tuesday, November 12, our collective psyche was further attacked by the circumstances leading to the very unfortunate but clearly avoidable death of the erudite, selfless and patriotic intellectual giant Professor Festus Iyayi. Thus far, the undisputed account is that the vehicle in which the Professor was travelling to Kano for a crucial ASUU leadership meeting was hit by one of the escort vehicles in Governor Idris Wada’s convoy leading to his instant death.

    Granted that this could be an accident as investigation many reveal, but the incidence and frequency of this category of avoidable disasters by which innocent Nigerians are recklessly cut short by over-zealous drivers in the usually-long convoys of our respective state chief executives have become completely unacceptable. Recall that about the same time last year, the same Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State was involved in a ghastly road accident in which his former Aid de Camp died while he sustained serious leg injuries that kept him out of office for a considerable period of time.

    How they (governors, executives) remain comfortably in those recklessly-piloted motorcades to the detriments of pedestrians and other road users whose lives amount to nothing continue to baffle me. All over the world, the primary purpose of government is the security, sanctity of life as well as welfare of citizens. Our constitution in Section 14(2) (b) is clear on this, yet by the policies, actions and inactions of our governments, her citizen are being killed on regular basis.

    The deplorable state of our road infrastructure nationwide can hardly be discountenanced as a major contributory factor to this inglorious level of road mishaps. The entire academic unions in Nigeria particularly the ASUU which Iyayi led as the president between 1986-1988 as well as the Human Rights/Pro democracy community particularly the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) which he led as the National President from 1995-1997 must rise to the occasion on this score and ensure that this reckless killings stop. The fact remains that there is no correlation between the whooping and successive budgetary allocations to road infrastructural development and the conditions of our road networks which re-introduces the nagging question of severe corruption in our body politic.

    I join millions of aggrieved Nigerians and associates of Professor Iyayi all over the world to commiserate with his immediate family on this unfortunate but avoidable development.

    • Malachy Ugwummadu Esq.

    Lagos

  • Rabiu Ibrahim survives death in Scotland

    • Collapses, rushed to hospital
    • Club awaits medical report

    Kilmarnock manager Allan Johnston has played down the seriousness of Rabiu Ibrahim’s injury after the player collapsed on the pitch on Saturday.

    The Nigeria international had to be rushed to hospital after he collapsed following a collision with an opposing player in his club’s 2-0 win over Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.

    “I don’t think it’s an injury – I believe he just collapsed,” Johnston says.

    “He’s gone to hospital and we’ll just have to wait and see what the results are.”

    The under-fire manager hoped that the injury to the 22-year-old is not a serious one, noting that his absence will be a big loss to the ‘Killies’, who only managed to record their first win of the season after 10 games.

    “Hopefully, he’ll be okay. He was speaking fine after he went off but he wasn’t feeling right and you can’t take any chances with that.

    “If he’s going to be out it will be a big loss for us because he’s a very good player and a great lad.”

  • Death so cruel

    The remains of the Executive Director of Tastee Fried Chicken, the popular Lagos eatery, Mr Oluwabunmi Adedayo, have been interred at Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, Lagos. The interment followed a funeral service at Our Saviour Church, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    To his parents, it was the pain of losing an only child, who was so hardworking and diligent.

    To the army of youths at the funeral, it was the pain of losing a good friend, a colleague and a jolly good fellow. So, the tears came in torrents as the remains of the Executive Director of De Tastee Group, the parent company of Tastee Fried Chicken, Mr Oluwabunmi Adedayo, were buried last Thursday.

    The late Adedayo died on September 25, after a brief illness. He was 36.

    The deceased is survived by his children,Iyanuoluwayimika and Morolaoluwa; wife, Oluwayemisi and his parents, Mr Adekunle and Mrs Olayinka Adedayo.

    Friends, relatives and sympathisers, who came from within and outside the country to pay him their last respects broke down when the late Adedayo’s remains were taken out of the church after the funeral service at 12:23pm.

    The silver coffin with cream and green flower on top was conveyed in a black Escalade. It was lowered into the grave around 1:00pm at the Vaults and Gardens in Ikoyi.

    Oluwayemisi, the widow, dressed in all black, whispered inaudible words on the coffin of her husband, crying till the grave was cemented. Priests, friends and family members consoled her.

    He’s gone too soon, many said.

    Most guests wore black. Some wore T-shirts, which had the late Adedayo’s picture in front and “Forever in our hearts” written at the back.

    Members of the staff of Tastee Fried Chicken were there in large numbers. The eatery closed operation on October 2 and 3 in honour of their late director.

    At the funeral service, Rev Gbemi Olaleye and Efe Nathan (singers) sang to lift souls.

    The church choir took the hymns. Femi Band was the brigade.

    Vicar and Archdeacon of Ikoyi Ven Igein Isemede assured the people that God who hears, cares and heals would intervene in the situation.

    He urged Oluwayemisi (the widow) to take heart, saying that God is her refuge, strength and ever present help in times of trouble.

    At the wake-keep held on Wednesday, Rev John Nriama told the people that God would never forsake, abandon, hurt or leave his own.

    “God will comfort and heal our hearts,” the cleric said.

    Many were too depressed to talk to The Nation but some relatives, friends and co-workers did in tears.

    The Personal Assistant to the late Mr Adedayo, Mr Tunde Sokoya, described his death as sad. He said the late Adedayo contributed greatly to the organisation’s success. He described him as ‘’intelligent, goal achiever and a success’’.

    His best friend, Mr Yinka Adepoju described him as a man who brought joy and happiness to all.

    His cousin, Mr Mayowa Ogunnusi, said the late Adedayo was an embodiment of entrepreneurship who cherished family union.

    A worker in the Quality Control Department of Tastee Fried Chicken, Mrs Olawepo Ololade, said the late Adedayo lived a simple life, adding that he was a man for all. “He had human feelings, very humble and down to earth,” Mrs Ololade said.

    A relative, Mr Yisa Saheed, said the late Adedayo was gentle, generous and had a listening ear.

  • Olorunda shocked at Isa’s death

    Olorunda shocked at Isa’s death

    Plateau United goalkeeper, Abayomi Olorunda has expressed shock and disbelief at the news of the death of is teammate, Iliyasu Isa.

    The death of Iliyasu was recieved with shock after the player reportedly died from the result of the head injury he sustained from a road accident in Sokoto town.

    Abayomi in is reaction, said: “Iliyasu death was a shock not just to me but to the entire Plateau United team. It is disheartening. This is death too cruel.

    ” It very hard for me to take. He was a great easy going guy and very funny, the great Chitalu is gone,” saddened Abayomi told SportingLife.

    “Iliyasu will be remembered for his humbleness and dashing run on the right flank,” the shot stopper maintained.

    He prayed God to give the families of the deceased, the fortitude to bear the painful loss. The remains of the former Sokoto United player have since been buried in his home town in Sokoto on wednesday according to Islamic rites.