By Tunde Abatan
‘Oh death, where is thy sting? Oh grave, where is thy victory!’
For me, the events of the past two weeks have been agonizing and sorrowful. For one, relatives, families and especially parents across the nation have been subdued in intense emotions and agony over their loved ones who have been victims of banditry, kidnapping and senseless religious killings across the country.
In another vein, the unexplainable and sudden death of long-time friends and relatives have offered a resounding reality check.
Since March 7, 2021 when I lost my great Uncle, Alhaji Rilwan Olajide, to the cold hands of death, life has assumed a new meaning. Thanks to Christ who has already paid the supreme sacrifice for those of us still alive.
Streams of double loss and tragedy befell yours truly with the passage of Bernard Olalekan Oketokun (1960-1961). Lekan was a childhood friend, brother, classmate and confidant. His death offered new lessons on the vanity of life for me.
Lekan gallantly battled a stubborn illness for four years. His ever vibrant spirit remained so even as his recuperation took a twist for the worse on Saturday April 24. His wife of almost four decades, Arike Omotayo was by his bedside when he breathed his last.
Lekan, a brilliant, courageous, compassionate and reserved fellow had had over three decades of a successful career in the Insurance industry. When he left his last employment in 2006, he established his own brokerage firm which was named Peace Castle. It was a dream come true as he had always wanted to tow the path of entrepreneurship. He did and was quite successful. He did well also in building his nuclear family, sustaining relationship with friends and serving God.
It has taken yours truly, almost two weeks to write about a friend and brother of over five decades beginning from our early years in school, through secondary school, and scaling several professional and societal storms together. Lekan’s death has created a void but then, reminiscences of our shared values and life memories will forever remain in my mind.
What is more? on that Great day on December 31st 1994, when I gave my life to Christ though destined by God, was facilitated by Lekan’s relentless prodding. He quipped on that day “My brother, there is nothing comparable to life in Christ, try him and you’ll experience it.” Those were his encouraging words, and since then, I’ve never looked back. Rest in peace, great soldier in Christ. Till we meet on resurrection day.
For Alhaji Musediq Akanbi Abatan(1958-2021), my first cousin with whom I grew up with, death came calling few hours after he said his morning prayers on Tuesday, April 29, 2021. His death came when he was taking a nap after returning from the Mosque. He was seventeen days into the Moslem fasting period. Sadly, he didn’t wake up to join his staff at a nearby site not far from his home.
A very successfully carpenter and builder, he was a family man by all standards, a family bridge builder and rallying point of his generation of the extended Abatan family of our homestead, Ita Onijaye in Oke- Sokori area of Abeokuta. His sudden death, as he was without any illness, is what Yoruba people call “agbo ju igba nu.”
His death caught everybody unawares. His nuclear family were the most shocked as he had earlier cracked jokes in the living room that morning after returning from the mosque. He retired to his bedroom never to return back to the fold.
He built family and solid relationships with his direct siblings, his large nuclear family and his living community, his mosque where he was Baba Adinni until he breathed his last.
Dear cousin, I pray for the repose of your dear and gentle soul; Aljannah Fidau grant you.
Be rest assured that by God’s grace, those whom you’ve left behind will fill the big vacuum created by your demise. Adieu!
