The
cream of the society yesterday trooped to the ancient town of Ikorodu, Lagos
State, for the burial of foremost industrialist and business icon, Chief Rasheed
Gbadamosi.
The
burial ceremony took place at his Kunbi Haven residence, situated on Sule
Oyesola Gbadamosi Crescent, Kokoro-Abu, Ikorodu.
As
early as 8 a.m., sympathisers started arriving at his home. They all described
him as a true son of Ikorodu and Lagos State.
At
exactly 2.00p.m., the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Sheik Seifudeen
Ayinla Ademoritan Olowooribi, leading other Imams, led the congregation
in the last prayer for the deceased.
His
body was lowered into a vault that was prepared for him many years ago, at
exactly 2.15p.m.
The
state government was represented at the ceremony by the Chief of Staff to the
Governor, Mr. Olukunle Ojo, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Prince
Rotimi Ogunleye, Commissioner for Arts, Tourism and Culture Mrs. Adebimpe
Akinsola and Special Adviser on Overseas Affairs and Investment (Lagos Global)
Prof. Ademola Abass.
Other
dignitaries included former ministers Prince Ademola Seriki and Musiliu
Obanikoro; former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba and wife, Derinsola;
a former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Fatai Adeyinka; Justice of the
Court of Appeal Justice Habeeb Abiru ; Director, Eko Hospital, Olorogun Sunny Kuku;
Oriwu Sun Publisher Alhaji Monsur Olowosago; Majority Leader, Lagos House of
Assembly S.O.B. Agunbiade; Managing Director, AIICO Pension Manager Mr.
Equarekhile Longer and others.
Oba
of Lagos Rilwanu Akiolu, Ayangburen of Ikorodu Oba Adewale Shotobi were
represented by bearers of staff of their respective royal insignia.
In
his graveside oration ladden with Qur’anic recitations, Sheik Olowooribi, who
was full of encomiums for the deceased, praised almighty Allah for granting
Gbadamosi’s wishes.
He
admonished sympathisers to think of death and how it would come and ensure that
they were always in good stead.
Sheik
Olowooribi, who noted that the vault had been prepared long before his death,
said: “While some were buried in unknown places or missing, the almighty Allah
granted his wish. It is where he wished to be buried that he was buried. Allah
is great.”
He
said the deceased was good to all who came across him during his lifetime and
prayed almighty Allah to forgive his sins.
The
deceased’s daughter, Mrs. Kunbi Osinoiki, in a chat with reporters, noted that
Gbadamosi built bridges across national facets.
Aside
from being an industrialist, she said her father was passionate about drama and
dramatists and assisted some of them to prominence.
It
was her wish that her father would be remembered by Nigerians for his
contributions to the national economic growth as a former Minister for National
Development and Economic Planning and Chairman, Petroleum Pricing and
Regulating Agency(PPRA) and former Chairman, Nigerian Industrial and
Development Bank (NIDB).
Although
Gbadamosi was not politically active, she noted that her father served the
country in whatever capacity he was appointed because he was passionate about
Nigeria.
Ogunleye,
who spoke on behalf of Lagos State delegation, noted Gbadamosi’s contribution
to the development of the state as a premier Commissioner at age 27.
Ogunleye
said the late Gbadamosi did so much for Lagos State and Nigeria and that his
shoes would be difficult to fill.
Chief
Osoba, who said he was close to the deceased for over 60years, described his
death as too sudden.
He
urged the young ones to emulate him, particularly for his selfless service to
the country.
Yeni
kuti, whose late father, Fela Anikulapo, was a close friend of the deceased,
said his death was too sudden and shocking.
“It
was so sad an end to such a vibrant uncle and an industrialist that provided
jobs to many. He was our rock. When Fela died, he was there for us. When my
sister died, he was there for us and all through. We would miss him,” she
lamented.
Justice
Adeyinka, who repeatedly called the deceased by his alias, “ R.A. Jojolo”, said
the vacuum created by his death would take a long time to fill.
Seriki
described him as “a good man, highly principled, a man of strong philosophy and
a man full of ordinary.”
Obanikoro
said the late Gbadamosi was an “ extraordinary man blessed with extraordinary
records of achievements. A mentor, trailblazer and an excellent Lagosian”.
President
Oriwu Club, Ikorodu, Alhaji Shafari Aremu Sule, said the deceased served three
tenures as president of the club because of his goodness and the fact that he
was morally upright.
Source:The
Nation
Tags
Society