President Buhari’s statement prevented a more vicious reprisal. There is need to send a stronger signal to Ghana and any other nation whose uncultured citizenry thinks it is cool to violate a sovereign nation’s diplomatic mission.
WAKAMAN
they do in public institutions. Ajimobi died in the same hospital where the late Abba Kyari breathed his last. We would never know if they both could have survived under public health care. The grave hardly discriminates. It’s a lesson for the living.
In an era where social media is angling to take over from mainstream media, rumours of people dying is no longer subject to the crucible of confirmation from family members. It is also shameful that uncontacted family members sometimes have to read obituaries before they could be reached. In the Ajimobi case, it is shameful because as a Muslim who died so close to him home base, he would still have been buried before sunset. There was no need for the sprint to announce his death until his family have braced themselves for the task. It is a violation of a family’s right to be so assaulted.
Should the living speak ill of the dead? The jury is out on that one. Those who read their own obituaries have a taste of what people would say behind them. Not that it really matters to the dead, it’s a vital lesson for the living to live a strong and impactful life.
Perhaps if Nigerian politicians know that the ‘evil’ whispered behind them would be shouted on their rooftops, they might take national service more seriously. This is why we must break from the old tradition of not speaking ill of the dead and speak openly about them while they are alive and when they are dead.
The most poignant Ajimobi encounter to me was the one with students in which he became sarcastically known as Constituted Authority. In my view, he did not get a second chance to correct that national impression of a brash leader. Not even with the extended handshake to Kano when he gave his daughter to Ganduje’s son. A second retirement to the Senate was denied him. He lost the seat of government to the opposition after breaking a the jinx of being the first governor in Oyo State to gain re-election. He lived well for 70 years and basically prayed for his own exit.
The testimony of his close friends stands tall, that although he appeared brash to the public, he bravely spoke his mind, and helped his people. May his soul find rest!