2020 is indeed a year where many anticipated different hopes in all the spheres of their lives but since the outbreak of the pandemic disease, COVID 19, it has dwindled and shattered many hopes both mentally, physically and also financially. It has also affected the well-being of many people as some who have had to manage their different ailments were at the verge of not getting access to standard health care because of the scare of corona virus. So it has been one death, too many in the past months as some celebrities have bid good bye to the world due to this pandemic while some died natural death or due to one other ailment or the other. Below are some of the prominent Ibadan celebrities Nigeria has lost in the last few weeks.
The Agbaoye of Ibadan Land, Chief Harry Akande died in the early hours of Saturday, December 5, 2020. In a statement by the family, Chief Harry Ayodele Akande passed away following a brief illness. Chief Harry Akande was an astute businessman of international repute whose legacy and influence cut across continents. “But by far his greatest passion was for a better Nigeria that guaranteed equity and justice for all. It is our fervent hope that this will be a reality in the not too distant future. His passing is a huge shock to his immediate & extended family, friends & associates. We are all grappling to make some sense of it”. The family said. Though some sources has it that he allegedly died due to COVID 19.
Ex Oyo Gov Abiola Ajimobi who was 70 years old, was said to have passed on few weeks back at the Cardiology Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, where he had been on treatment from complications arising from COVID-19.
Ajimobi, who had been on a life support machine at First Cardiology Hospital in Ikoyi, Lagos, after slipping into a coma following Coronavirus complications died on a Thursday. The former Chief Executive Officer, National Oil and Chemical Marketing Company, a subsidiary of Shell Nigeria, died due to underlying health conditions, which was worsened by COVID-19. Oyo Gov, Seyi Makinde’s mother too passed on recently.
The family of Makinde has explained how the mother of Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde died. The family said the late Mama Abigail Makinde gave no indication of any sickness but died peacefully at 81 on a Thursday morning about 3 weeks ago. Jagun Olubadan, Chief Muyiwa Makinde, made the announcement on behalf of the family.
One BIGBOY who held the social scene both in Ibadan and Lagos was Chief Jide Odekunle . He was the Immediate past General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA,during the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.. He was said to have died at age 53 of COVID-19 complications at the Onikan isolation centre. His death is one that shook the whole social scene.
Odekunle was a 1989 computer science graduate of the University of Ibadan. He had a distinguished career in sales and marketing and held senior management positions in several multinationals including Schlumberger Omnes, GS Telecom, Suburban Telecom, Nera Microwave and Ceragon Networks. He was General Manager of the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, LASIMRA, for four years. Late Odekunle was also the former secretary of the Ikoyi Club. He was until his death the Bobagunwa of Egbaland.
Foremost Ibadan billionaire, Chief Bode Akindele also died few weeks back. It was gathered that the Parakoyi of Ibadanland died on a Monday morning at his Apapa, Lagos residence. He was aged 88. His death was also one which shook Ibadan.
Chief Bode Akindele’s business empire operates under the name Modandola Group of Companies. The Madandola Group’s areas of interest cover maritime, properties, manufacturing, real estates, investments, finance and flour milling with its headquarters in the United Kingdom. The Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, in his condolence message described the death of the foremost Ibadan businessman and philanthropist as a great loss to the state and indeed, Nigeria. Makinde, who described the late Parakoyi of Ibadanland and Chairman of Modandola Group, as a worthy elder statesman and someone who was genuinely interested in the wellbeing of others, said that the late businessman wiould be sorely missed.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that the late Akindele contributed in no small measure to the growth of the state and his community.The governor also commiserated with the family of the late statesman, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the entire people of Oyo State, praying that the good Lord would grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
The governor said, “The news of the death of our revered elder statesman, Chief Bode Akindele, the Parakoyi of Ibadanland and Chairman, Modandola Group, came to us as a shock.
“Baba Akindele was one of the worthy elder statesmen in the state and he lived a life worthy of emulation. As an elder, he was always after the progress and wellbeing of the state and its people.”I remember that only a few months ago when the state put out calls for support towards the Oyo State COVID-19 Endowment Fund, Baba Akindele was one of the elders who responded by donating N25 million to the state.”It is sad that we lost such a noble elder and philanthropist at such a moment as this.
Ibadan celebrity woman, Ronke Inaolaji died 6 Months After her Husband’s Death. The families of the last wife of the late construction giant, Alhaji Jimoh Ibrahim, popularly known as ‘Inaolaji’ ‘ was thrown into deep mourning since news of her death broke a few weeks ago. Chief (Mrs) Ronke Ibrahim, simply known on the social scene as ‘Ronke Inaolaji’, was gathered to have died at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, on Sunday 18th October, 2020, after a brief illness. She was said to be aged 59 and survived by three lovely grown children; two boys and a girl.
Her death, however, has remained shocking not only to her immediate family but also to friends and associates, especially those who still saw her some days before her passage. Many of them couldn’t come to terms with her sudden death. It is also sad because her death came just six months after her husband’s demise (the husband, Chief Jimoh Oyedele Ibrahim died sometime in April this year, at 85).
As a matter of fact, Ronke was still mourning the passage of her late husband because she was hooked up in faraway Canada, due to coronavirus pandemic lockdown, when the husband died. She came back about a month ago and this happened. There is no doubt in the fact that Ronke Inaolaji lived a fulfilled life. She was a successful businesswoman, a good wife and a loving mother. All her children are doing wonderfully well in their various chosen fields. In fact, one of them just became a resident doctor in Canada. There was however a project she was working on and couldn’t finish until her death. The deceased was said to be planning to resuscitate her late father’s bakery business, in marking his 10th-year remembrance. All the equipment for the bakery to kick-off was said to have been procured by Ronke Inaolaji.
The death news of Ogun Majek also occurred. He had suffered from a heat-related illness before he eventually lost the battle. But as if that was not enough, later in the evening of that same Thursday, Arisekola’s elder brother, Alhaji Abdul Rasak Alao also died.
Ogun Majek was a known actor who contributed greatly to the growth of the Yoruba genre of Nigeria’s film industry in his lifetime. He had been battling a heart-related illness before he eventually died. In fact, at a point of his sickness, he had to seek the general public’s help to be able to go for surgery. It is not clear whether he was able to raise the required fund before his death. He died at his Imolenfalafia Ibadan home on Thursday, the 25th of June, 2020.
The elder brother of late Ibadan-born business mogul and the former Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, Alhaji Abdul Rasak Adeniyi Alao popularly known as ‘Okin’, it was reliably gathered, died same Thursday evening at his Akinwumi Compound area of Ile-Marun, Iwo-Road, Ibadan home, after a brief illness. He was buried the following day according to Islamic rites. Alhaji Okin, like his late younger brother, was also a successful businessman in his lifetime. He was survived by his wives, children and grandchildren. He was aged 79.
“Though he has been down with some old age-related illnesses for some days now but his condition has since improved. So, he died when it was least expected,” a family source revealed. Alhaji Okin, in his lifetime, was a known businessman whose business interests cut across Real Estate, Oil & Gas and Auto. He was a family man to the core. Alhaji Abdul Rasak Alao’s death, sadly, came a few days after his younger brother’s remembrance Fidau prayer was held.
The immediate past President of the Ibadan Recreation Club, Otunba Gboyega Fisher is also amongst those who died in Ibadan recently. Fisher, aged 65 died at the University College Hospital, Ibadan after a brief illness. The social circle in Ibadan where Fisher is a prominent member was plunged into mourning when the news of his death filtered in. Those who knew the socialite described him as a fine gentleman who is peace-loving. He was said to be hale and hearty after attending a party a week before he died.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
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