Death the compulsory end of every mortal has struck again, it came in its most deceptive garment and ended the journey of a highly respected and agreeable senior colleague in the pen world; Alhaji Bashiru
Ademola Jimoh.
The news of his death at the wee hour of today remains unbelievable, a shock and undeserving, you never gave any inclination that our conversation few weeks ago will be the last.
I still can’t come to terms with the reality that death has no respect, why would the deadly element always go after the good and bring their sojourn on the face of the earth to an abrupt end, six feet beneath. This is painful and heartbreaking.
I remember how you allowed God to use you and your wife to rescue my wife from death about five years.
We were neighbours back then at Ita Elepa, Ilorin, and I was working with the National Pilot Newspaper, along Asa Dam road.
On this particular day, I was away for an all night production when information reached me that my wife’s health was falling and my attention was needed but there was no way I could come home.
Alhaji Bashiru Ademola Jimoh with his wife stormed my apartment after I called them to help out in the middle of the night. Moved with compassion, he conveyed my wife with his butter colour Benz and rushed her to the emergency unit, General Hospital, Ilorin. They stayed with my wife till day break when I was able to join them.
How can I forget this kind gesture. You came to my aid when I was helpless, when I needed support most. If you hadn’t helped me back then, who knows what would have happened to my wife?
Even after I left your area, you never stopped showing me love, each time we see or talk through phone, you open our conversations with “Aburo bawo ni, Iyawo mi nko, ati omo mi okunrin ye”
Honestly, you were too nice a man. Why would death cheat such a naturally humorous man whose company always herald so much joy and fun?
There is this aura of fun, camaraderie and love I enjoy each time I find myself in your company particularly when the likes of Pastor Kayode of The Herald Newspaper and ‘Boda Bunmi as I fondly reference him are involve.
You may have gone but testimonies on the lips of many about your deeds gave an assurance that ‘You came, saw and conquered’, Your memory can never go oblivious. Death is now in shame because you’ve lived a purposeful life with records bearing witness.
The journey of a man is ephemeral and quite unpredictable, death is inevitable and unarguably, the end of everyone born of a woman. We leave by the Grace of God. It’s so painful sha….
I sympathise with members of the journalism fraternity in Kwara State, may God end this in our mist, it’s becoming too many in recent times. It’s no crime declaring a day to converge at our secretariat and offer prayers.
May God grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.