“Judge not a man happy/ Until he enters his grave.” These are the immortal words of one of the world’s greatest tragedian of all time, Sophocles. The Greek playwright simply captures the essence of life in the epilogue of his timeless play, Oedipus Rex. Unlike the eponymous hero of the play, those who lead a fulfilling life worthy of emulation are judged to have departed to the world beyond happily. Nowadays, it is simply called celebration of life of the departed soul.
This glorious exit certainly gives the children, families and friends of the deceased cause for celebration indeed. And that explains the saying: “Sweet is the remembrance of the righteous.”
This was exactly what happened on July 23, 2016. It was a Celebration of Life! Couple of weeks ago, the former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Dr. Ismaeel Adebayo Adewusi, had lost his mother, Madam Rabiat Faderera Adewusi.
Mama succumbed to the icy hands of death at the ripe age of 92. Certainly this called for celebration in remembrance of the ‘Golden Mother’ and the Matriarch of the Adewusi family.
This sweet remembrance was demonstrated when family, friends, political associates, captains of industries and royal fathers and retinue of well-wishers converged on the ancient, sleepy town of Eruwa in Oyo State, the country home of Dr. Adewusi, for the celebration of ‘life’ of the late Madam Rabiat Adewusi.
As expected of celebration of that nature, considering the caliber of the celebrant, Dr. Adewusi, a one time chairman of the telephone giant, Celtel, all roads led to Eruwa in Oyo State to give Mama Adewusi a befitting burial. Eruwa wore sparklingly brilliant colours it almost never wore in decades ranging from the red carpet reception for the cream-de-la-cream to the colour combination and colour contests of aso ebi and myriads of attire donned and displayed by families and visitors.
The atmosphere was simply alluring; the town stood still – practically in festive mood. The roll call was intimidating and from all works of life as big masquerades came to town: Roll call: Minister of Solid Mineral, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akaka; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adesina Olusegun Adeyemo; representative of the Deputy Governor of Oyo, Moses Adeyemo; former governorship candidate in Ogun State, Gboyega Nasir Isiaka; former Secretary to the State Government (Oyo), Abiodun Sarafa Alli; former Commissioner of Finance in Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti States, Hons. Zaccheus Adebayo, Kenny Shogunle and Dapo Kolawole respectively.
Barrister Kazeem Adesile Ayoola, Hon. Commissioner for Commerce and Industry; for Commissioner for Sports, Hon. Makanjuola Ayoola, both from Oyo State; Hon. Kehinde Zubair, Majority Leader; Hon. Bosun Oladele, House of Representatives from Oyo; Permanent Secretary cum Clerk, Oyo State House of Assembly; representative of former SSG Oyo and Babalaje of Saki, Chief Michael Koleosho; legal luminary, Chief Niyi Akintola Senior Advocate of Nigeria); Prince Bayo Oyero, the immediate past President, Central Committee of Ibadan Indigene; Ambassador Ayodele and his wife.
Other dignitaries at the event were: Editor, The Nation, Gbenga Omotosho; Spokesperson and Special Adviser on Health to the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Semiu Okanlawon and Dr. Rafiu Isamotu respectively.
Royal fathers were led by the Iku Baba Yeye, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alaafin of Oyo; Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola Akindele, Eleruwa; Oonjo of Okeiho, Oba Abdul Rafiu, Asawo of Ayete; Oniro of Iroland and Onidere of Idere.
The showy women rallying the wife, Hajia Olabimpe Adewusi: Tina Ogundoyin, the wife of the late business mogul and Chairman of Femo Company West Africa, Adeseun Ogundoyin; Isiaka Adeleke’s sister.
The day began with prayer for the repose of the soul of Madam Adewusi. This was conducted by the renowned Islamic cleric, scholar and preacher, Sheikh Muideen Ajani Bello, who flew all the way from his Kano base. All Islamic scholars joined in the supplication with the reading of the whole Holy Qura’n, prayer for forgiveness and favour Allah for the deceased as well as prayer for those she left behind. There was also a sermon on life, death, life-after-death and the ephemeral nature of life.
When it was time for merry-making, there were enough foods and drink for dignitaries to unwind. The ageless juju music maestro, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, was on hand to electrify the atmosphere. For the rest of the day, Obey’s evergreen lyrical lines wafted festively in the air. It was praise singing and dancing galore.
Obey’s lyrics were irresistible to the eyes and the limbs – standing, dance; seating down, dance; eating, dance; even attending to visitors. Dancing, dancing and dancing; you don’t have choice but to dance, the Juju Commander commanded with his compellingly scintillating lyrics.
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