Encomium
+Untold secrets about the gentleman loved by many
MS. Yeni Anikulapo Kuti, former wife of late Femi Segun, was privy to the ace compere’s last few days on earth, and told ENCOMIUM Weekly she was the arrowhead of the team that battled to save his life while he was taken to different hospitals in Lagos. With high emotion, she told us how Femi Segun really died…
How did the whole thing really happen?
I feel like crying. I got a call from one of my cousins that Femi had an accident. I thought it was a joke and then I put a call to his wife, Bisi. She told me it was true that the accident was inside the estate near their house and he had been taken to St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos Island, Lagos. I rushed from Kalakuta Museum, Ikeja, Lagos, straight to St. Nicholas Hospital, and for three days we did series of tests and scans, where it was ascertained that his spinal cord had been broken. From St. Nicholas, we moved him to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos. His condition had been critical then. Even at that, he would say, ‘I will be fine,’ that we shouldn’t panic. He was on pain killers. His back was broken. He had severe injuries. On Tuesday, March 18, 2014, when I saw him again, I became worried. The doctor gave us 50-50 chance. However, if he would have survived it would be 80-20 chance. At that point, I decided to call my daughter in the United Kingdom.
On Friday, when you were called from the hospital while on the TV programme, Your View, on Television Continental, what came through your mind?
I couldn’t pick those calls because I was in the studio. I knew something terrible had happened. I didn’t wait after the programme. I rushed to the hospital immediately. Since then, I have been down. Initially, I thought of going to the UK to accompany my daughter home because I know how emotional she is but that Friday, she was already on her way to Nigeria. Everything was just like a dream. I can’t still believe all that happened. This is somebody who just left some friends in the estate. Sola Salako was even expecting to have him on her television programme. She became worried. Femi keeps appointments, the next thing was his R.I.P on Facebook.
What would you miss about him?
I will miss his being there for his daughter, Rolari. Whenever she comes to town, her father was always there for her. He was a good father to his daughter, I feel for his wife.
His last moment
THE ACCIDENT THAT TOOK FEMI SEGUN’S LIFE
The accident that took Mr. Femi Segun’s life was inside Millennium Estate, Lekki Scheme One, Lekki, Lagos, a few meters from where he and his family live. He rode on his power bike, rushing down to his daughter, Fikemi’s school when he lost control of the machine and hit his head on a stationary vehicle.
Motorcyclists inside the estate, who recognized him had to call his wife and he was rushed to St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. The accident was on Friday, March 14, 2014 and he died one week later (Friday, March 21, 2014).
WIFE STILL IN SHOCK
Mrs. Bisi Femi Segun, widow of Mr. Femi Segun was surrounded by sympathizers inside the living room when we visited their Millennium Estate, Lekki Scheme One, Lekki, Lagos home on Saturday, March 22, 2014.
She was being consoled by sympathizers who called while some other guests sat outside as they discussed their last encounter with the deceased.
Mrs. Bisi Femi Segun, who is a judge at the Lagos High Court, Lagos, declined speaking with us. “What do you want me to say? I don’t speak with the media. Speak to Yeni, she is on her way.”
INSIDE THE CONDOLENCE REGISTER
A day after the news of the death of Mr. Femi Segun filtered into town, his friends and associates have been thronging his Millennium Estate, Lekki Scheme One, Lekki, Lagos home. All of them expressed their condolences inside the register opened at the entry point of the house.
Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who was among the early callers wrote, “Senior Segun, you were a notable Nigerian. You taught me a lot about MC, RIP.”
Ambassador Folake Marcus-Bello, “Rest in peace, friend.”
Yeni Kuti, “Gone too soon. Rest in peace.”
Funke Kuti, “Rest in peace.”
BURIAL PLANS
On Saturday, March 22, 2014, the family was yet to decide on the exact place Femi Segun will be buried. The date for his final journey home was, however, fixed for Thursday, March 27 and Friday, March 28, 2014.
There will be Service of Songs for him on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at his residence. Funeral service will hold at Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s House on the Rock Church, Lekki, Lagos.
HIS LIFE AND TIMES
The late Femi Segun was born in 1959. He was a holder of Masters degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies. He was a polyglot, fluent in French, Portuguese, German, Spanish, Italian and Nigerian languages. He held leadership positions in diplomacy, banking, public relations, journalism, public affairs commentary, etc.
As a diplomat, between 1983 and 1990, Femi Segun served as foreign affairs officer, on secondment to the Presidency, Lagos as official Portuguese interpreter to three former heads of state.
In the course of his diplomatic duties, he was honoured with the Officer of the Order of Rio Branco, Brazil by President Joao Bernado Figueiredo in 1983.
He left an aged mother, Mrs. Mabel Segun (a foremost novelist), sister, Omowunmi, wife, Mrs. Bisi Femi Segun, Yeni Kuti and two daughters, Rolari and Fikemi.
UNITED IN GRIEF
The two daughters of late Mr. Femi Segun, Rolari and Fikemi were reunited hours after the death of their father. Rolari who was in the United Kingdom when the incident happened flew into town on Saturday morning and by 4 p.m that same day, she had joined her younger sister, Fikemi at their father’s Millennium Estate, Lekki Scheme One, Lekki, Lagos home.
Shortly after her arrival, alongside her mother, Yeni Kuti, she and her sister mourned for a brief moment and shrugged off their grief, they went out together in the company of Yeni and friends to cool off in the neighbourhood.
FOLUSO SAMUEL
