Few year ago as editors from Oriwu Sun joined lovers of art and literary works to cover an exhibition inside a gallery in the Ikorodu residence of Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, one of us looked round the massive gardens, mansions, driveways and walkw
ay as well as the gallery itself and asked the eminent Nigerian if his childr
en had shown much interest in arts and nature and if they would sustain his love for the arts when he is gone.
He looked at this reporter and said it was not his business what his children decide to do when his gone, whether or not they sustain the gallery or the beautiful gardens is left for them.
This industrial icon, poet, writer, economist and former Minister of National Planning is gone.
His massive Ikorodu compound of about two acres will surely be a big asset and liability at same time. It is too big a place to be maintained by an individual and a beautiful place to be owned by government or a corporate group. Only art connoisseur or true lover of nature will value this wonderful mansion Rasheed Gbadamosi left behind.
His children and his wives will obviously have an uphill task looking after this huge investment judging by the cost of maintaining gardeners, cleaners, security men, plumbers electricians, maintenance engineers etc.
It is no mean task.