It is a common practice across the globe to wish the deceased a peaceful transition. Often, the phrase Rest-in-Peace being expressed by the deceased family, friends, relatives and associates, is a profound statement in anticipation of smooth funeral rites for the dead. But it is a different kettle of fish for 47-year-old Salami Adekunle, who was struck to death by lightning sometime in September, in Kwara state. His burial has been surrounded by controversies, confusion and misery. His case perfectly illustrates a situation of double wahala for dead body, according to the late Afro Beat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti. UMAR BAYO ABDULWAHAB writes
Death is inevitable end of all human beings. But how, when and where it will occur is what remains unknown to man.
But surely, as a necessary end of every living thing, death will definitely come one day. However, the prayers and expectation of almost every human is, may every death be peaceful. Men dread tragic end and when it occurs it leaves behind sorrow and devastation for family members especially, where the deceased was a bread winner.
For Salami Adekunle, a.k.a KUNLASA , a 47-year-old activist and staff of registry department of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, his death has not only caused pains to his family members, colleagues and friends, it has also generated issues largely based on the circumstances surrounding his death.
The deceased was struck to death by thunder lightening in Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, last Thursday.
Confusion in Oro town
There was confusion in Oro town in Irepodun Local Government area of Kwara state following the news that Salami Adekunle was struck to death by thunder lightening .Expectedly, the tragic incident threw the entire Oro community into mournful mood.
Blueprint gathered that the deceased who hailed from Osun state was until his demise a staff of the Registry Department of the College of Education, Oro.
But the circumstance surrounding his death has been eliciting reactions from concerned individuals, groups and adherents of different faiths.
The deceased was said to be leaving the institution’s examination office for the Registry Department at about 10: am on Thursday last week when he was struck by lightning during a downpour.
Electric shock
No sooner than the incident occurred that the victim’s death began to generate controversies from the members of the community.
The first shocker that greeted his death was that no one could move close to the victim’s body lying on the ground.
It was gathered that attempts by some people to rescue him were repelled by strong spiritual forces in form of electric shock.
Therefore, making difficult for the sympathisers to move close to the body as the surrounding was electrified.
The situation forced staff of the institution to gather in group discussing the development.
The institution’s Public Relation Officer, Mr. Adesola Adewoye, who confirmed the incident, said that all efforts to rescue the deceased proved abortive.
“The staff and management swung into action immediately the deceased was struck, but all our efforts to resuscitate him proved abortive,’’ he said.
Sango priest to the rescue
After failed attempts to resuscitate the victim, Blueprint gathered that some Sango priest were invited to perform some rites on the corpse to appease the gods, before the body could be evacuated for burial.
Sources close to the family told our reporter that the priest requested for the sum of N500, 000 and a cow which was used to prepare sacrifice to appease the gods.
But that did not put an end to the whole episode as it was just the beginning of another controversy that trailed the young man’s death.
Controversy over burial
For more than 48 hours, the body of the deceased could not be laid to a final resting place following repeated warnings and threats by some people that burying the corpse in that community could have negative consequences for the entire family, the entire town, including his former working place.
Sources told Blueprint that some Sango priests who made it possible for the corpse to be evacuated had instructed that on no account should other ritual be performed on him before burial.
Corpse rejected at Ilorin Muslim cemetery
From Oro, the body was moved to Ilorin with the intention to be buried at the Ilorin Muslims cemetery along New Yidi Road, following warnings from Sago priests that burying it in Oro town could have adverse consequences on the people.
But the instruction from the priest did not go down well with the management of Ilorin Muslim cemetery.
Consequently, after heated debates over which burial rite to be given the deceased by the management of the cemetery, the body was rejected.
Explaining why the management of the cemetery rejected the corps, the coordinator of the cemetery, Dr Abubakar Aliagan told journalists in llorin, that the cemetery’s management rejected the burial following an instruction that the corpse should not undergo the normal Islamic prayers and bath rites.
He said while the deceased was described as a practising Muslim during his life time, Muslims in his vicinity refused to accept that his death was an act of God.
Aligan, who is a lecturer in University of Ilorin, said the performance of traditional rituals on Adekunle’s corpse after his death and the instructions against conducting Islamic rites on it were unacceptable to the management of the cemetery.
“If the late Salami will sleep in our Muslim cemetery, we have to do it in line with lslamic rites,’’ Aliagan said.
Final resting home
Following the rejection of the corpse, the body was said to have been taken to Ilesha in Osun state for burial
Conflicting tales
There are different versions of the tragic incident.
Some people who would not want their names in print argued that Salami possessed some potent supernatural powers from Sango (god of Thunder) even when his ancestors were Ogun worshipers (god of Iron).
“When you are an Ogun worshiper, you must not romance with Sango as some politicians cross carpet, such act would boomerang”.
According to some African Traditional Religion worshippers, “it is an abomination for anyone who worships Sango to also romance with (Ogun god of Iron)”.
Another version has it that the Osun- born activist fell victim because he was not mindful of what needed to be done to appease the god of thunder especially during rain.
Those who held this belief said it is an abomination for those who possess such power to be beating by rain when such charm is really on them.
They said the incident happened to Salami because he was not mindful of what could be the repercussion of his action and failed to protect himself from being beaten by rain on that fateful day.
Previous warning
On two different occasions, it was gathered that the late Salami battled with mysterious forces, which were signs of imminent consequences likely to befall him should he fail to do the needful.
On one of the occasions, his car was said to be attacked and destroyed by thunder lightening while on the second incident, he suffered a mysterious fire outbreak in his home and some of his properties were burnt.
Last moment
Sources told our reporter that the late Salami was in company of his friends who drove together in a car on that faithful day of the incident.
According to eyewitness, he drove the car which belongs to one of his friend during the downpour.
‘‘As they alighted and walked towards different directions, the deceased was struck by lightning following a thunder strike’’, the eyewitness said.
Premonition of death
And in what seems to be a premonition of his death, the deceased, it was gathered about five days to his death told his wife that he does not want to see or have anything to do with red colours.
He was said to have told his wife to keep away anything in red colour away from him for some time.
The man Adekunle Salami
As a unionist of a non –academic union of the institution, the deceased was an activist to the core who would never compromise unjust acts in the system where he worked.
He was said to have played a prominent role in a recent crisis that rocked the management of the institution.
The institution’s Public Relation Officer, Mr. Adesola Adewoye, described the deceased as an easy going, loyal and dedicated staff who will stop at nothing to impress his employer.
“Our prayer is for God to give the family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he said.
