*He is gone to rest*
It is the end of an iconic epoch. He was everywhere at Ogori, definitely ubiquitous. Most times he followed any esen whether eregba, iyaro esen, aigo or ogun. He was often taunted by kids virtually everywhere he went. His strategic defence mechanism was to throw stones at anyone who mocked him at the same time as he protested in a loud voice of innocence and ironically, warm friendship to any who greeted him with civility.
They said he complained, only a few days ago, of tommy ache. The Revd Father, of the Catholic Church at Ogori he attended, was there to see him a number of times with money or and drugs. He was buried this morning amidst a huge crowd of well meaning Ogori sympathisers and his Catholic parishioners. Interestingly, his grand-father, *Abadaki* of blessed memory, was amongst those who brought christianity to Ogori through the Anglican Mission, but he chose to be a catholic parishioner! Who says that God discriminates or interested in one’s denomination. For a 73-year old or thereabout, with no wife and no child whose relatives at times shied away from identifying with him, it must be ajudged as one of the heavily populated burial ceremony. They even said the 3rd day family/clan gathering next Thursday will be a bigger crowd! A good number of the youth at Ogori participated in digging his grave and the homily at the funeral was quite moving. I had an agbada I brought home to give him in March and I insisted I would personally hand it over to him. But due to COVID-19, I rushed back to Abuja without seeing him, to beat the lockdown. Only 2 days ago I asked of him and planned taking the dress to him this morning. Alas, I got the shocker that *Eded’osuda Abadaki* gave up the ghost at the early hours of this morning. I gazed at the agbada and wonder to whom I can now give it to. The ogun esen, that serenaded his passing, from the burial ground was something else. For once, I had to appreciate the good neighbourliness of the Ogori people.
Though he is gone, *Eded’osuda Abadaki* will for ever remain green in our hearts as one who added colour to many events, one way or another, in Ogori for over 7 decades. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
By Olugbemiro Jegede