High profile deaths that shook Nigeria in 2011

Posted by admin Headlines Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

The year 2011 brought with it a harvest of deaths. From the creeks of the mangrove forests of the South to the sands of the Sahel savannah in the North, there is no state in the country that did not record deaths. But as an observer put it, “we could have been alarmed if no life was lost at all.”

Death, many insist, is the ultimate price everyone is condemned to pay. As 2011 gradually folds into history, Nigerians will forever remember the numerous lives that were lost to road accidents, sectarian crises, bombings and arson, election protests and allied problems. And there were a lot more people, who died of armed robbery attacks, diseases, natural causes and many more reasons. They met death when it came and embraced it with stoic resignation, trusting in the time-hallowed lines of the holy book: “There is time for everything; a time to be born, a time to die – a time for every purpose under heaven.”

But amidst the flurry of deaths which characterised the year, a few stand out because of the size and social standing of the personalities involved. Some of them Nigerians will be hard put to forget in a hurry. Memories of such deaths will hardly go away because the persons involved shaped lives while they lived. Any wonder why their exit shocked many and thus reinforced the living lines of legendary poet, William Shakespeare: “When beggars die, there are no comets seen; but the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes.”

Looking back at the high net worth persons that died in 2011, surprisingly, those from the Nollywood industry took the front line, with those from the sporting confraternity coming after them. The clergy, politicians and career civil servants too were not left out.
Indeed, it was Super Eagles one-time defence marshal, Uche Okafor, who opened the floodgate of celebrity deaths on January 6. It was alleged that he committed suicide in his home in Dallas, USA. The death of the player, who helped Nigeria win the 1994 Africa Nations Cup in Tunisia and featured at the World Cup the first time same year, shocked the sporting confraternity worldwide, particularly many who had followed his towering exploits in football. He was 43.
Just three months after his exit came the turn of his junior colleague in the team, Olubayo Adefemi. Adefemi died on April 18, at 25. The lad, who coincidentally played in the defence like Okafor, was killed in a car crash in Greece as he hurried home for his traditional wedding.

Shortly after those sad incidents, Nollywood was thrown into deep mourning when one of its own, Ashley Nwosu, died on April 20. He was alleged to have fallen into a coma after slumping at a movie location. He later died in a hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
Then on May 11, in far away USA, the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of the Metropolitan See of Onitsha, Albert Obiefuna, died at 81. A native of Oraukwu in Anambra State, he was elevated to the priestly order on December 21, 1963 and ordained Bishop of Awka in 1978. He was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Onitsha in 1994. He resigned as Archbishop of Onitsha in 2003.

It was the turn of the entertainment industry once again when on June 30, the death of Africa’s songstress and actress, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, was announced. The Lady of Songs, as she was fondly called, is still being remembered for her many soul-stirring songs, which still delight the old and the young. The evergreen memories of her role in the famous television soap – New Masquerade will ever be remembered by her teeming fans.
Barely one month after that sad incident, the nation, on July 20, was again jolted, this time, by news of the death of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Lagos State, Chief Al-Mustain Abaniwonda, 56. He was the party’s Lagos East Senatorial candidate in the last April election. The politician allegedly drowned at the Marina Beach at CMS Bus Stop, Lagos, in a circumstance that has remained a riddle to many who knew him closely. And while the country struggled to make some sense out of that death, on August 1, Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, former speaker of the House of Representatives, died. Ume-Ezoke was a very active player on the country’s political turf for a long while.

From that moment, politicians passed the baton to Nollywood stars once again. This time, the lot fell on the path of veteran actor, Sam Loco Efe. At 69, the Nollywood household name that thrilled generations of Nigerians while he lived was reported to have died on August 7, in his hotel room in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Sources said he had retired after shooting a home movie.

Just when the nation had begun to enjoy a breather, Obiajulu Nwaozor, the one many called MC Loph, on September 14, took a final bow. The high life crooner shot into the spotlight, following the remix of Osondi Owendi, earlier popularised by the late highlife maestro, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe. MC Loph died on Benin-Ore Road on his way to his native Anambra State for his traditional wedding. The SUV he was driving plunged into a ditch, also killing his only sister and injured his fiancée on the road, which, for long, has become a sad commentary on the country’s national life.

And then, on November 20, news broke that former Minister of Internal Affairs, and publisher of Guardian Newspapers, Chief Alex Ibru, had died at 66. An accomplished businessman, Ibru once survived a barrage of bullets allegedly from the guns of marksmen of former dictator, the late General Sani Abacha. While Ibru was being mourned, from London, news of the death of Dim Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, 78, filtered into town on November 25. The former Biafran leader, whose death marked a clear end of an era, remains unarguably, the biggest Nigerian to die this year. He was leader of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).

The death of two police officers in quick succession is a matter still being talked about in hush tones. Olympian Sunday Bada 42, and DIG Ganiyu Ali Dawodu, 58, died on November 12 and 15 respectively in Lagos. Bada, a sprinting sensation, until his death, doubled as Superintendent of Police and the technical director of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) while DIG Dawodu was posted to Force CID, Abuja, after promotion to his last rank in September last year.

-Sunwp_posts