Encomium
THE remains of Isaac Durojaiye Agbetusin, a.k.a Otunba Gadaffi, were laid to rest at The Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. ENCOMIUM Weekly was at the ceremony. We spoke with his children and siblings, we also bring you happenstances from the ceremony.
HIS BIOGRAPHY
Isaac Durojaiye Agbetusin, also known as Otunba Gadaffi was born in 1965 into a middle income family of the Agbetusins of Ipetu Ijesha in Osun State. He attended Jehovah Jireh Primary School, Moshalasi, Surulere, Lagos. The Model Secondary School, Idi Oro, Mushin also in Lagos.
He attended Accra Polytechnic, Ghana where he got a diploma in Fine Arts in 1981. He travelled to Britain and returned in 1990, after becoming a licensed professional bodyguard and security expert. He served as bodyguard to American international comedy star, Eddy Murphy and British heavyweight boxer, Frank Bruno. His security outfit, Scorpion Security was appointed as late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola’s bodyguard in 1992. After Abiola was murdered in 1996, he veered into mobile toilet manufacturing.
HOW HE REALLY DIED
He was on and off hospital bed until he was diagnosed of diabetes. Though he was assumed to have been on top of it, there was no sign that he would pass on soon. He held a meeting with his siblings and aged mother on Sunday, March 19, and was also at work on Monday, March 20. He closed around 5.16 p.m that day. He even drove himself to The Valley Clinic, Ojodu, Lagos on Monday night but passed on around 3 p.m on Tuesday, March 21, 2012.
HIS UNFULFILLED DREAMS
Late Otunba Gadaffi dreamt of taking his mobile toilet business to its zenith by veering into bio-gas (conversion of waste to electricity). Research and investigation had already begun before death came calling.
He also had a vision of retiring into a wondrous edifice at 50. A prototype of the house which is an architectural masterpiece is on the back page of his funeral programme.
SERVICE OF SONGS
The wake keep held on Tuesday, March 28, 2012 at DMT’s Place, KM 7, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway. Hymns and readings from the Holy Bible, emotion soaked testimonies, exhortation, prayer and benediction characterized the event.
MIC MEN IN CHARGE
Six young men from MIC Undertakers were the pallbearers. They were garbed in cream buba and sokoto. They also had a carton brown and wine ofi atop their cream attire. They were all in pensive mood to align with the situation on ground.
THE LYING-IN-STATE
The lying-in-state was at the cemetery. It started around 7.30 a.m, Otunba’s corpse was already waiting at The Vaults and Garden, Ikoyi, Lagos for families and well wishers. Family members and well wishers were all on a queue to have a last glance at their breadwinner and benefactor.
OUTING SERVICE
At about 10.32 a.m, clergy from Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry made a call to worship. Again, hymns, prayers, Bible readings held sway. Next was a short biography of the deceased and a riveting sermon which spiced up the service. The vote of thanks was done by the deceased younger brother, Tosin Agbetusin. All these took place within one hour and half at The Vaults and Garden’s hall in Ikoyi, Lagos.
THE DUO OF DELE MOMODU AND AIG TUNJI ALAPINNI (RETD) WERE THERE
The two gentlemen came to pay their last respects to Otunba Gadaffi. The publisher of Ovation International magazine, Chief Dele Momodu was garbed in a navy blue sokoto and buba and a navy blue cap, while Alapinni wore a brown attire. They sat together, exchanged pleasantries and chatted for some minutes. They left the venue together after interment.
BALMORAL BOSS ALSO CAME
Ezekiel Adamu came alone but didn’t stay till the end of the programme. He exchanged pleasantries with families and friends of the deceased, sat down quietly for some minutes before leaving. He wore a navy blue attire with sky blue stripes.
‘I will surely miss him’
- Dami Agbetusin (Son)
“I didn’t see it coming this soon, now it has happened. I will surely miss him and all the little father and son fight we had. He made us proud by maintaining the set goals he had for us. He was my ambassador of hard work and excellence.”
‘A great father’
- Simi Agbetusin (Son)
“I will miss him, he was a great father and businessman who used his imagination and creativity to feed his family. He will always be in our heart.”
‘He cares for his family’
- Adebare Agbetusin
How will you describe daddy?
He was a responsible and humble man. Very diligent and hard working. A man who cares for his family, I will really miss him.
How old are you?
I am 13. I am a student of Noble College, Lagos.
‘He loves his children’
- Adesanya Agbetusin
“Daddy was nice, humble and God fearing. He loved his children so much and wanted the best for everybody.”
‘He gave us everything’
- Tirenioluwa Agebtusin
How will you describe daddy?
My dad was a kind, generous, hard working man. He was humble and caring. He loved his children and cared for them, he gave us everything we needed.
How old are you?
Nine years old. I am in grade four at Stellacrest International School, Lagos.
‘He never lied as a businessman’
- Wole Agbetusin, elder brother
“He was a complete man, very passionate and upright. He never knew how to hide his feelings. He was also a sincere person. He never lied when it came to business. Anything that would affect his business can’t be found with him. God knows the best. I pray he sleeps in the bosom of God.”
‘He doesn’t discriminate’
- Kemi Adeyemo, sister
“He was a nice person, jovial and generous. Despite his reputation, he didn’t discriminate. We had a meeting with him on Sunday some days before he died, he called us together and told us that it was the last and final meeting he would be having with us. I think he knew he was going to die.”
‘He left an eternal legacy’
- Ope Banwo
“It was the passing of a great visionary. He was a friend of 20 years. He supported me and stood by me when I came back to Nigeria, even when no one was willing to help. His mobile toilets were used at my wedding ceremony. He didn’t live long but left an eternal legacy behind.”
‘He was a good man’
- Tunji Alapinni
“He was a good man, determined and fulfilled. He was someone with focus and he pursued his goal. He has left his print in the sand of time. He has done well as an entrepreneur in Nigeria.”
‘He was kind to a fault’
- Dele Momodu
“He was a great man, a very good friend. An incredible soul who was kind to a fault. Everybody had something good to say about him because he touched a lot of people’s lives. I tell people that it is not how long but how well.”
- This story was first published in ENCOMIUM Weekly on Tuesday, April 3, 2012
