Chief Jide Adebayo's death too painful, says Kwara traditional ruler

The Olomu of Omu-Aran in Kwara, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, on Friday described the demise of a former Acting Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Jide Adebayo, as too painful to bear. Adeoti spoke while receiving the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle, in his palace in Omu-Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara. Supreme reports that Ponle was in the community on a condolence visit to the family of Adebayo, the Eesa of Omu-Aran, who died in a Lagos hospital on Nov. 5 during a brief illness.

The traditional ruler said Adebayo died at a time the community was benefitting from his wealth of experience, adding that he recorded many achievements as Eesa of Omu-Aran. They loved him but God loved him more, that was why He called him at that time. They are missing him, definitely he cannot come back again. Adeoti said they struggled to save his life, they held on to him, they did what was humanly possible but it was not possible for them to save him. The traditional ruler also said Adebayo lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation. He added that they give God the glory for his life and the impact he had on his immediate community in particular and the nation in general.

Ponle, on his part, described the death of Adebayo as a great loss not only to Omu-Aran community but also to the agency. He said the achievements of the deceased both in his career and at community level were numerous and undefined his capacity for hard work. He conveyed their sadness in palpable form on the death of Jide Adebayo. He said his death was devastating. It was also very revealing. He called him Jide because they have been together for some 40 years. At work, at home, because they lived in the same place while they worked in Lagos, they were family. He said when he saw the pictures that emanated from the community when his corpse arrived, it was a pain, then my relief, relief in the sense that he was a good man. Wherever he went, he always touched lives, at home he touched lives, in the community, he touched lives. That's why he is being mourned and it will take some time, if at all, before it goes.

Supreme reports that the managing director was accompanied by the agency's Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Dele Ojo and the Director of Administration and Human Resources Management, Alhaji Abdulhadi Khaliel. Also on the delegation were the Director,Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs Gbemisola Erinoso-Babalola and Special Assistant to the Managing Director, Mr Mufutau Ojo.