The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sympathisers

  • How Baba died, by son… Sympathisers throng his Ilesa home

    Son of the late Moses Olaiya Adejumo (Baba Sala), Emmanuel, on Monday, narrated how his father died.

    Speaking to our correspondent, he said the late comedian died in his sleep after dinner on Sunday.

    According to Emmanuel, his late father was discovered dead by his youngest wife, Funmilayo, who “went to his room to give him an information.”

    He said further: “Baba died last night around 6 O’clock.  He died at the age of 82. I was not there but his wife called the eldest son of the family immediately it happened and that one called me and narrated everything to me. His body had been taken to the mortuary. We will need to hold a meeting before we can fix a date for his burial.

    “I will miss so many things about my dad. He was a very lively person. He was always advising all of us even those that were not his biological children. He advised everyone equally. He would tell you what to do and guide you.”

    A neighbour simply identified as Sola described late Adejumo as a prayer warrior.

    He said he was very accommodating and related very well with everyone.

    According to Emmanuel,  though Baba Sala was not wealthy, “he was rich in the knowledge of God and he had a wealth of experience. He would tell us that his own father did not encourage him to be a comedian, that he didn’t have anybody to advise him when he was growing up but he was always guiding us and praying for us.”

    Sympathisers have started visiting his house at Ijoka Street, along Ijebu-Jesa road in Ilesa, Osun State, to commiserate with the Adejumo family.

    Some of them are members of his Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Isida, Ilesa.

    A member of the Church, who did not mention his name because he said he was not authorised to speak on “baba’s death, only said late Adejumo was a role model to many of them in the community.

    Osun State governor-elect, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, condoled with the Adejumo family, the people of Osun State and Nigeria as well as the theatre practitioners for the loss, saying the late Adejumo was an enduring phenomenon in traditional theater.

    He said: “Growing up to know his dexterity in drama and stage performance actually situated leisure and recreation among the people of Southwest alongside legends like Hubert Ogunde, Duro Ladipo and Ojo Ladipo a.k.a.  Baba Mero.

    “His great capabilities actually materialized in those worthy legends who passed through his tutelage like King Sunny Ade and others. The entire entertainment industry has lost an encyclopedia of benevolent sarcasm because his works were not mere humour.”

  • Plateau community bans feeding of sympathisers by bereaved families

    Worried by the financial burden on bereaved families, the Mwagavwul community in Mangu Local Government of Plateau has abolished the feeding of sympathisers visiting bereaved homes.

    “Experience has shown that bereaved families go through a lot in the efforts to feed and please the multitude thronging in to sympathise with them over the loss of loved ones.

    “As a community, we have banned such feeding in the bye-laws endorsed by our development association,” Mr Joshua Mape, National President, Mwagavwul Development Association, told the Newsmen on Wednesday in Jos.

    He said that it was not fair to worsen the economic situation of mourning families, adding that the community arrived at the decision after “very wide consultation”.

    Mape said that the practice of feeding mourners was alien to the community.

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    “Feeding sympathisers is not part of Mwagavwul culture. It is not fair or right,” he said

    He regretted that some bereaved families had often borrowed to feed sympathisers, saying that the trend was “a huge and unnecessary burden”.

    Mape, however, suggested that sympathisers could bring food to bereaved homes to feed those that had lost their loved ones.

    “In Mwagavwul land, the sympathisers are expected to take food to the bereaved families because they are already hit by the trauma of losing a loved one and cannot cook,” he said.

    He said that the association set up a committee which looked into issues affecting Mwaghavul culture before it enacted the bye laws to guide the lives of the people and save their culture from being corrupted.

    “The bye laws abolished celebrating the death of people less than 65 years. It also pegged the bride price to be paid on Mwagavwul daughters at N50,000, irrespective of location and education”.

    The association leader commended Mwagavwul rural communities for celebrating annual festivals, saying that the platform had always promoted the unique culture and heritage of the people.

    Mape urged the Plateau government to complete work on the 150 kilometres Panyam- Wamba road abandoned more than a decade ago, saying that it would ease the movement of farm produce from rural communities to urban centres

    NAN

     

  • Political leaders, sympathisers visit Tinubu

    Political leaders, sympathisers visit Tinubu

    STATESMEN, political leaders, clerics, captains of industry and representatives of royal fathers yesterday paid condolence visits to the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over the demise of his first son, Jide.

    Among the numerous people also sighted yesterday were Tinubu’s political associates, businessmen and women, religious leaders, neighbours, friends, family among others.

    Others include: Lagos State APC Secretary Hakeem Bamgbola, Adeleke Adeyemo, a lawyer, Dr. Abayomi Finnih, former member of House of Assembly Hon. Sunmi Odesanya, Chief Olawale Mogaji, Hon. Abiodun Mafe, Hon. Hakeem Oris, Chief Jayeola Ajatta, Hon. Bashiru Bolarinwa, Hon. Tunde Balogun, Hon. Yemi Ali, Chief Raheem Daramola and a delegation from the Yoruba Tennis Club.

    Other sympathisers include: Elder Tayo Soyode, father in-law of the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, league of Imams, Yoruba Tennis Club, Onikan and Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, Lagos State Chairman of NURTW.

    Early callers included the Emeritus Bishop Ephraim Ademowo of the Anglican Church, Lagos Diocese, Lagos State Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule, her predecessors – Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire and Mrs. Sarah Sosan; former Minister of State for Defence Chief Demola Seriki, wife of former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, Derin; former Lagos State Information and Strategy Commissioner Dele Alake, eminent banker and politician Fola Alade and Police Commissioner Ibrahim Lamorde.

    Also commiserating with Tinubu were chairmen of 57 local councils from Lagos State. They include Bolaji Ariyoh (Osodi/Isolo), Emmanuel Bamigboye (Mushin), Bolanle Akinyemi-Obe (Coker/Aguda) and Valentine Buraimoh (Amuwo Odofin).

    Also at Tinubu’s home were a constitutional lawyer Mr. Femi Falana, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, delegates from Ondo State Government led by Mr. Ifedayo Abogunde, the Secretary to the State Government among others.

    As from 7 a.m., scores of the sympathisers thronged the Bourdilion, Ikoyi home of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, who flew to Lagos from Abuja yesterday, following the announcement of Jide’s passage in the social media by Lagos State APC Chairman Otunba Oladele Ajomale.

    Many of them, who signed the condolence registered paid glowing tribute to the deceased and prayed for the repose of his soul. They also commiserated with his father, urging him to take heart.

    After receiving the visitors, Tinubu, accompanied by his wife, Senator Oluremi, and some associates and aides, left the residence for the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja. A source said he travelled to London to meet the wife and children of the deceased.

    A chieftain of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who described the demise of Jide as a big loss, urged Tinubu to take heart.

    “This is a serious matter; a lot of hope has been dashed. It is not an easy thing. Only God can console the family,’’ he said.

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, said in the condolence register that “it is with a great shock I received the news.’’

    A childhood friend of Tinubu, Alhaji Akeem Danmola, said that “may God never allow this kind of death again to Asiwaju, it is too painful.’’

    A Lagos lawmaker, Mr. Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, described the death as “a loss too painful’’.

    “It is not a pleasant moment for any of us close to Asiwaju, to Lagos State and entire Nigerians. It is very sad. Nobody will wish his enemy to lose a child.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during his condolence visit, Alhaji Lawal Animashaun, the APC Divisional Chairman in Ikorodu, urged Tinubu to take heart.

    Personal Assistant to the APC national leader, Mr. Demola Oshodi, received some of the sympathisers on behalf of Tinubu.

  • Sympathisers condole with Azikwe’s family

    Sympathisers condole with Azikwe’s family

    •Condolence register opened  •Jonathan commiserates with family•Buhari: a gentleman left a turbulent world

    The family house of the nation’s first President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, was a beehive of activities yesterday as sympathisers trooped to the compound to pay their last respect to the first son of the great Zik of Africa, Owelle Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe.

    Chukwuma, who replaced his father as the Owelle of Onitsha, died on Sunday at 10am according to the family.

    The twin uncles of the deceased, Akunne Arah Azikiwe and his brother Nnanyelugo, received the visitors yesterday.

    The family officially announced Chukwuma’s death as approved by the family’s spiritual head, Nwamulunanma Azikiwe.

    “We announce the death of the Owelle of Onitsha, Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe.

    “He died on Sunday May 10 at 10am and burial arrangements will be announced later,” Akunne said.

    Owelle Azikiwe’s personal assistant, Chukwuma Njaka, said the death of his boss was painful to everybody. He described the late Azikiwe as an Iroko tree.

    The Special Assistant to Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi on Statistics and Strategic Planning, Okey Okiri, who is also an in-law to the Azikiwe’s was one of the early birds.

    Okiri said he spoke with the late Owelle on Wednesday and he did not sound sick. He regretted that he did not deliver the Owelle’s message to Governor Rotimi Amaechi before his death.

    Meanwhile, a condolence register has been opened in the expansive compound with a few persons signing it.

    President Goodluck Jonathan has commiserated with the Azikiwe family.

    The President, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, also extended condolences to the government and people of Anambra State.

    He said the deceased lived a fulfilled life by sustaining the humanitarian and leadership legacies of his father as a mobiliser, leader, philanthropist and a highly respected voice in his community.

    The President prayed Almighty God to grant the soul of the departed a peaceful rest and comfort the family he left behind.

    The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has also described the death of Chukwuma as a sad development and the exit of a great Nigerian who was brought up in the best tradition of national unity and genuine African values.

    In a condolence message yesterday, Buhari said: “A gentleman has left a turbulent world. Ambassador Azikiwe was a thorough–bred citizen who chose private life after a distinguished diplomatic career in Nigeria’s Foreign Service.

    “There is no doubt that Azikiwe’s humane and refined qualities made it possible for him to step into the big shoes of his great father- Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe as the Owelle of Onitsha”.

    The President-elect said with the demise of the Owelle, he had lost a friend who cared for him and often found the time to visit him.

    Buhari urged the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nna’meka Ugochukwu Achebe and the entire people of Onitsha Royal Kingdom to take heart and bear the loss with fortitude.

    Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has condoled with the Azikiwe family and Obi of Onitsha on the death of Chief Chukwuma Bamidele Azikiwe.

    In his condolence message, Obiano said he was shocked at the news of the demise of Chukwuma, a 1964 Harvard Business graduate, whom he described as a political leader in his own right.

    “It is not how long one lived, but how well. What is important is the courage we bring to bear on life. It is neither easy to come out from the shadows of a great patriarch, nor for one to succeed in all one’s endeavours.

    “For me, it was enough that the late Chukwuma espoused his own vision of leadership and offered himself for service to the state.

    “In a sense, he was a cultural ambassador of not just Onitsha but the Igbo race as a whole,” he said.

    Obiano said the vicissitudes of his life notwithstanding, the deceased would be remembered as one who tried to play his part in the time and circumstances available to him and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.