The death of Chief Elemure Ogunyemi, a popular Ekiti State traditional musician, has been described as a big blow that will bring hardship to the family.
Albert Ogunyemi, a senior brother of the deceased, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Ikole-Ekiti that the Elemure was the only benefactor that the entire family depended upon.
The elder Ogunyemi said he rendered unquantifiable assistance to every member of the family for years.
He said: “He was a great ambassador of the family who brought the name of the family to limelight and people respected the family due to his status in Ikole and the entire Ekiti.
“His death was a surprise.
“He had been ill for some time now, but we did not envisage that it could lead to death.”
The family spokesperson said he was preparing to travel to Ado-Ekiti, where the deceased was residing, when the news of his death was made known to him on Thursday morning.
He payed God to grant the family members the fortitude to bear the loss.
NAN correspondent, who visited the family home of the deceased in Isaba-Ikole, reports that family members and friends are mourning the passage of the musician.
The deceased, aged 67, held the title of Elejoka of Isaba, one of the highest chieftaincy titles in the community.
Ogunyemi, a septuagenarian, died in the early hours of Thursday.
Sources close to the family told the News Agency of Nigeria that the ace musician was said to have fallen ill a couple of weeks ago and might have died of undisclosed ailment.
While alive, Ogunyemi traversed the length and breath of the country, thrilling his fans with his music usual laced with Ekiti dialect.
His leading role in the promotion of Yoruba language made his fans living outside the country to sponsor his recent musical tour of America and Britain.
NAN reports that his sudden demise on Thursday shocked residents of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, where his musical group was domiciled till death.
At Isaba town, his home town in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, residents expressed shock on hearing of the death of the musician.
He left behind a wife and children and arrangements for his burial would be unveiled soon, a family source told NAN.
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