Like a wild fire spreading uncontrollably through a dry forest, the cold hands of the death recently swept through lkorodu community and took away six prominent individuals in quick succession.
The incident, which started while the community was preparing for the yuletide celebration and extended into the New Year, occurred between December 18, 2021 and January 28, 2022.
It was indeed a very shocking occurrence as that was the first time lkorodu community would lose such an array of notable personalities within a very short period.
The loss of these individuals have been described as sad and unfortunate despite that they were all at an advanced age of 70 and 80, due to the vacuum they left and the roles they were playing in the community.
The deceased were household names who impacted immensely on the development of lkorodu community in particular and Lagos State and Nigeria in general, politically, socially, religiously, culturally and in order areas.
The harvest of death took off with the demise of Alhaji (Dr) Tajudeen Bawa-Allah on Saturday, December 18, 2021. The renowned scholar and community leader died at the age of… after a brief illness and was buried at Ikoyi Vault in Lagos, according to Islamic injunction.
The deceased, who has been described as a repository of knowledge, lived a quiet but fulfilled life, contributing to the development of lkorodu, Lagos State and Nigeria at large and humanity in general, in various capacities.
He was an author, a member of several notable social clubs in lkorodu and Lagos and an outstanding academic with several awards and accolades to his credit.
As a respected community leader, he was the Mogaji of lkorodu and as a devout Muslim, he was the Mogaji of lkorodu Central Mosque and Baba Adeen of Aga Mosque.
His last public appearance was at the grand finale of the 2021 Ikorodu-Oga Day Carnival where he was honoured with the IKODASS Lifetime Achievement award.
Almost two weeks after, the death of Alhaji Omotayo Olufowora, popularly known as Educay, hit lkorodu community again.
The late political leader died around 5.00pm on Thursday, January 6, 2022 and was buried the next day according to Islamic rites.
His death came as a surprise and rude shock few days after given his son’s hand in marriage to his heartthrob in Ibadan. Sources at the wedding ceremony said that Alhaji Olufowora was hale and hearty and did not appear like someone that would die soon.
Until his death, he was actively involved in politics and was a notable chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ikorodu and gave his all to ensure the unity and progress of the party.
The late politician will, no doubt be sorely missed in the lkorodu political scene and in other areas where he made significant impacts during his lifetime.
While the people were still mourning Alhaji Olufowora’s shock demise, another prominent son of the soil, Alhaji (Chief) Mukaila Adio Onabanjo, popularly known as ‘Mikky Mikky’, was, on Sunday, January 9, 2022, announced to have passed away at the age of 81. He was buried on Monday, January 10, 2022, according to Islamic rites at his residence along Lagos road, lkorodu.
His burial prayer was led by Sheikh Sefiudeen Olowo-Oribi, the Chief Imam of Ikorodu Central Mosque where he held the title of Saraki Adeen until his death. He was also the Saraki Adeen of Lagos.
He was a notable and successful business man who recorded huge successes as an importer, textile dealer and developer.
Late Onabanjo is survived by two wives and 23 children, notably among which is Alhaji Lukman Onabanjo, popularly known as ‘Bugon’.
The death harvest continued unabatedly on January 25 with the death of the former Secretary to the Lagos State Government and a notable political figure in lkorodu and Lagos State, Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya, following an undisclosed illness at the age of 74.
Princess Adenrele was the daughter of late Chief Adeniran Ogunsanya, a prominent Lagos lawyer and frontline politician in the First Republic and a close associate of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
She was a strong member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in lkorodu and Lagos State and made significant contributions to the success of the party in the State particularly in 2007 general elections and this earned her appointment as the Secretary to the State Government in the administration of Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. She, however decamped to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) along with the Lagos4Lagos faction of APC few weeks before her death.
Following the announcement of her death, her father’s sprawling mansion located along Obafemi Awolowo road, Oke Ota-Ona, lkorodu, where she usually stayed whenever she visits lkorodu, was besieged by a crowd of sympathisers who trooped in on daily basis to sympathise with her family and pay their last respect.
Notable among those who paid tribute to her was the ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo who described her death as a rude shock and great loss to Lagos State.
Three days later, the sad news of the death of Alhaji (Justice) Abdul Fatai Adeyinka (rtd), the former Chief Judge of Lagos State, hit the lkorodu community like a tsunami.
It was that Justice Adeyinka had been sick for a while and took his last breath in the early hours of Thursday, January 27, 2922, in the arms of his loving wife who was said to have been nursing him since the time he fell ill.
He was buried the same day according to Islamic rites at his lkorodu residence located at Radio area of Oke Ota-Ona, lkorodu.
His burial prayer (Janazah), which was held at the Oriwu Central Mosque, lkorodu, was led by the Chief Imam of the Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Oshoala (As-Samadaani) with Alfas from Ikorodu Central Mosque also in attendance.
Justice Adeyinka was a former Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) and a member of the prestigious Oriwu Club, lkorodu, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees until his death.
It is on record that the gigantic Oriwu Central Mosque, located adjacent Ikorodu garage roundabout, which construction took several decades to complete, was commissioned under the leadership of Justice Adeyinka as the Baba Adeen.
Many who paid tribute to him described him as generous man who will be greatly missed for his philanthropic acts.
He is survived by his wife and four children with great grandchildren.
And just about 24 hours after Justice Adeyinka was buried in lkorodu, another prominent figure and a successful businessman, Chief Aderibigbe Shitta, (aka Sukusuku Bambam), passed away at the age of 81.
Chief Shitta, an illustrious son of lkorodu, was the B’aloro of Lagos and a founding member of the prestigious Oriwu Club, Ikorodu. He led the club twice as a President.
Born on March 25, 1940, Chief Shitta died on Friday, January 28, 2022.
Upon his death, his family created a memorial website to enable his friends, family members, associates and sympathisers share their memories of him and also send in their condolence messages.
He was described as a true legend and a huge personality who lived his life for others.
He is survived by his wife, Chief Mrs. Rafiat Abimbola Shitta and four children.
While the people of lkorodu continue to mourn the great loss of these illustrious sons and daughter, we pray that God forgives their sins, grants them eternal rest and give their respective families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.