Adieu Yomexy, Dearest of Friends: A Tribute and Reflections
In a few hours’ time, the body of Àbáyòmí Ilésanmí Àlùkò will lie in state at the Ilawe-Ekiti headquarters of the Ekiti South-West Local Government Area, his last duty post as a senior staff of the Ekiti Local Government Service Commission. Thereafter, my dearest friend’s remains will be committed to Mother Earth. He died on 12 October. It would be the second year in succession that I would lose a dear friend and comrade on that day. My birthday. Last year, we lost Abiodun Aremu “Aremson” that same day. Whilst a hit-and-run driver killed Aremu, the aftermath of a stroke he had suffered had a hand in that, with dulled reflexes. A stroke was also the precursor of Yomi’s death. Over the last week and a half, my mind has been a maelstrom of thoughts and feelings. Where do I start? How do I get to put some things into words? It’s very difficult to unpack a lot of what I would have to say. I have had quite a few great friends and wonderful comrades over the years. Not all comrades are fri...