Mr. Adegbenro, an engineer, was a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Ogun State.I RECEIVED the news of the demise of this illustrious son of our time with great shock. This is because, by the time I knew about his grave illness, he was already far away in the United State of America to seek medical attention.
I was, however, comforted by the news of the huge financial contributions of the Lagos State Government and other well-meaning Nigerians to the equally huge medical bill and I was confident that whatever needed to be done will be comfortably handled and he would return safely. Alas! this was not to be.
I can still recollect that the last time we met was at a function at the University of Lagos and after filling each other in on the events that had taken place in our lives since we last met, we went on to joke that we were fast becoming old men and we will soon begin a chain of 60th birthday celebrations. Though you lived beyond the age of 60 years, it pained me to learn that your illness started before your 60th birthday. .
Yinka, your life had brought to the fore the truism of the adage that morning shows the day. You exhibited the traits which eventually became the tools of your professional life right from our days at the Owu 1 Baptist Day School, Totoro, Abeokuta.
I recollect that while other students would busy themselves noisily during break times, you were always squeezing yourself between the desk and bench reading either a novel, a magazine or some form of print materials. Your spoken English was surprisingly excellent even at that tender age and some of us tried to emulate you to the joy of our parents. You were not only academically sound, your quiet disposition and concern for the plight of others earned you the position of our school’s Dispensary Officer till we left in 1960, while I was the school’s Time Keeper for the same period. When you were not reading, you were always in that little room attending to both boys and girls who had injured themselves either playing football, fighting or being involved in one minor accident or the other. It was obvious in those days that you were going on in life to become either a journalist or a health practitioner and to make a success of whichever.
I am happy that you made a huge success in your chosen profession that you are being celebrated today by the young, the old, high and low. Little wonder that you finally got married to the love of your life, Dr. (Mrs) Kehinde Craig (nee Obileye) to complement the other latent professional attribute in you.
Talking about parents, it was obvious that Yinka and I would gravitate to each other so early in life. Our fathers were great friends and the Craigs also lived in this mansion which was the cynosure of all eyes then and was named Oba Bi Olorun Ko Si (There is no king as God). It was located on a comer piece plot at the junction of Ago-Oba and Igbore Roads. The Lemboyes (that is my aunt-Alhaja Maryam Lemboye; my cousin, Alhaji Hon. Tajudeen Lemboye, and his siblings) also lived on Igbore Road. Every visit to the Lemboyes, therefore, was an opportunity to visit my friend, Yinka, and the gestures were always well-reciprocated. It was not surprising that I would look him up on my return from Glasgow, Scotland, where I had gone to study engineering to ensure our friendship continued and when it was time for me to get married, Yinka Craig was the natural choice as my bestman.
My heart-felt sympathy goes first to Kehinde (his wife), the children and then to the entire Craig and Obileye families, your classmates (Prof. Babatunde Ajao Adelekan, Dr. (Engr.) Gbolahan Lasaki, Mrs. Temitayo Onifade (Nee Akinboro), Mr. Sunday Oshunmakinde, Alhaji Rafiu Olawuyi, Chief Mrs Lara Ajayi (Nee Okedara), Chief Mrs. Stella Amope Oyefeso (Nee Akintobi), Surveyor Bode Adeaga) and I at Owu l Baptist Day School mourn you and are very proud of your achievements. You came into this world through the gate of success and we are happy that you have exited through the gate of success. A Yoruba adage says: “Ka ku lomode ki o yeni, o san ju ka ku lagba kama ni adie irana” (It is better to die young and be celebrated than to die at old age without leaving a positive mark in the world).
We pray that the Almighty God will grant your soul eternal rest and count you worthy of His paradise. May He also grant your family members and friends the fortitude to bear this great and irreparable loss, Amin. Inna lilahi wa Inna ilaehi Rajiun (It is from God that we came and to Him is our return). Goodnight.
Write Comment
Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article.
Personal verbal attacks will be deleted.
Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed.
Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button.
Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Copy This Idea and Start Making N650,000+ monthly beginning from today!
This simple business has made me N650,00+
in one month by learning where to find unique
information and making it available to
particular groups of people.
Easy,Simple, Quick Setup.
Completely legitimate.No scam!
Get report for FREE Here!
FxPro.com - Trade Forex Like a Pro
Flexible leverage up to 1:500
Low spreads from 1.8 pips www.FxPro.com
MyNaijaNews
Naija entertainment, lifestyle, sports, music reviews, fashion, technology, mobile phone reviews, books, classified ads, greeting cards, etc....It's your content. go get it......
Comments (1)
