•Details Of Her Classy 4-Day Burial In LAGOS
The last month has been a very difficult one for the Rotimi and Shoyinka family after the demise of their beloved wife and irreplaceable daughter, the late chief Mrs. Aarinola Susan Aduramo Rotimi, Baaye of Egbaland who passed-on in July 2021.
It was quite emotional from the beginning to the end of the funeral rites for families, friends, church members, colleagues and all categories of people who had been touched one way or the other by the kindness of the late Mrs Aarinola Rotimi.
Chief-Mrs Rotimi who was described as the mother of all and an ever-happening party rocker was a former high-ranking officer at the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Lagos Command. She passed-on on Saturday, July 10, 2021 after driving herself to the hospital on Friday, July 9, after a complaint about feeling weak.
The late Chief Mrs Aarinola Rotimi was survived by her husband, Chief Abayomi Abayomi, sons, Olaitan Opebiyi, Ayodeji Rotimi, Oluwatobi Rotimi-Lewis and Dolapo Rotimi. It was worthy of note that the children stood solidly behind their dad to strengthen him. He was a man so fond of his wife and would miss her so dearly.
Different groups of people organized different meetings on each day to mark the 4-day burial ceremony that started on Tuesday, August 24, and ended on Friday, August 27, 2021. City People’s Brands Editor, DAMILARE SALAMI 08155134152 and Head of Photography Unit, FEMI ADELEKE covered the 4-day event; below are excerpts from all that went down, enjoy.
EVENT OPENED WITH CANDLELIGHT AND NIGHT OF TRIBUTES
It was an emotional evening on Tuesday, August 23, 2021, as people trooped in from all walks of life to celebrate the passage of an icon and also pay tribute to a woman with a heart of gold, It was an evening where different people were left with tears on their faces while they talked about how much impact the late Chief-Mrs, as she is fondly called, has had on their lives. The event held at the Rotimis residence in Lagos.
PRAISE CHORALE TOOK CHARGE OF CANDLELIGHT
It wasn’t just an evening of tributes; good music also accompanied the tributes courtesy of the Praise Chorale Band. This band is known for pure classical, jazz, hymnal and church music. The Praise Chorale is a popular band among the Methodist, Anglican and Catholic circles. They took charge of the music during the candlelight evening and people well left with mixed feelings. So many people were emotional because of Mrs Rotimi’s demise but also fully enjoyed good music from the stable of the Praise Chorale Band.
NIGHT OF TRIBUTES WAS LIVE ON ZOOM
Many didn’t know that the night of tributes was live on Zoom until participants from the US and UK began to pour out their own tributes too. In all, it was a worthy celebration of a life that came full of potentials and died well, having spent her all for humanity.
THE SHOYINKAS MISS THEIR SISTER
Mrs Aarinola Rotimi was the first daughter of nine siblings. Some of her sisters were at the night of tributes and they spoke about their times with this amazing soul. She was a unifying factor in the Shoyinka family and the vacuum she’s left behind cannot be filled by any other person, Mrs Moji Iyamabo (nee Shoyinka) said on behalf of the family.
ARCH BISHOP VINING MEMORIAL MINISTERS STORM SERVICE OF SONGS
The second day of the event was a service song organized by the six societies Mrs Aarinola Rotimi belonged in the Methodist Church, Palm Avenue, Lagos. Surprisingly, Bishops and Reverends from the Arch Bishop Vinning Memorial Chuch in Ikeja, Lagos also stormed the event. According to the Bishop, Mrs Aarinola frequents the church to support God’s work. Her contributions and devotion to the development of God’s work in the church are enormous and cannot be left unappreciated because her works are still speaking even in death.
METHODIST CHURCH, PALM AVENUE HOSTS CHRISTIAN WAKE
The third day of the event was a Christian wake service that held at the Methodist Church, Palm Avenue, Lagos. The evening had a mammoth crowd gathered at the church auditorium. A member of the church revealed to City People that no Christian wake had gathered such a huge crowd in a long time.
Different groups, family members, church members. Colleagues, neighbours, friends and children of the deceased came to pay their last tributes to the departed before her body would be committed to mother earth. Dolapo Rotimi was among them, she revealed how her mum made her popular in school because of her kind gesture. “Mum would buy gifts no matter how small for everyone whenever she comes visiting at school. And whenever she’s around, everybody would know that Dolapo’s mum has arrived”, she said.
MRS AARINOLA’S REMAIN GOES TO CHURCH FOR THE LAST TIME
Amidst pomp, pageantry, salutations, band music and dance, the remains of the late Chief Mrs Aarinola Susan, Aduramo Rotimi came to church for the last time. Give it to the Nigerian Immigration Service team for the way they conducted the last honour for one of their fallen heroes. Many had forgotten they were in the church when they heard the shouts of salutation from the indefatigable military officers to the late Mrs Rotmi.
ROYAL BLUE ANKARA TAKEOVER THE CHURCH AUDITORIUM
The Methodist Church Cathedral was painted blue all the way. This was the colour of the Ankara Aso-Ebi picked to celebrate a life that has impacted her generation so immensely. Something very astonishing was the different fashion styles that took over the auditorium. Ladies were beautifully dressed and men too were not looking bad in any way.
ALAKE OF EGBALAND FULLY REPRESENTED
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III couldn’t attend the funeral because it is against the tradition but then, he was fully represented. Oba Gbadebo’s staff of office had been at the venue even before the arrival of most of the other guests. It is not a surprise because the late Mrs Aarinola Rotimi as well as her husband is a high ranking chief in Egbaland. Although the deceased is from Ijebu Ode, her husband is an Egba man from Abeokuta.
HON GANIU JOHNSON SPOTTED IN CHURCH
The Member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency, Honorable Ganiu Johnson and his wife were among the dignitaries spotted in church. A further enquiry revealed that he is a close friend of the Rotimis. It is not a surprise because Mrs Aarinola Rotimi made friends with the highly placed as well as the lowly placed in the society. She was a friend of all, a mother to many and God’s answers to many prayer requests. Little wonder the whole of Mushin stood still while her remains arrived and departed the church.
TOS FUNERAL TOOK CHARGE
Many didn’t know that the TOS Funeral was in charge of the funeral service until the band began to perform. They provided all the funeral materials needed for a state burial. Yes, a state burial because the kind of honour Mrs Aarinola Rotimi received in death can only be accorded to members of the state council. Although she was not, her influence was without limits and boundaries.
BAGOSA ALSO PAID LAST RESPECT
Mrs Aarinola Rotimi was an alumnus of the Baptist Grammar School, Idi Oshin, Ibadan. She belonged to the 1972/73 set and had become a very strong member of the alumni body before her demise. Known as BAGOSA, the Baptist Grammar School alumni members came to pay their last respect to one them. They testified to the fact that Mrs Aarinola always had a special touch and a special way of making things happen with ease. They also revealed how well she corporate and how easily accessible she was.
NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION SERVICE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE
One of the bodies whose role cannot be underestimated is the Nigerian Immigration Service, a military outfit where the deceased had served before her death. They gave Mrs Aarinola a befitting final burial rite as a member. The salutation and final gunshot that marked the end of the service of a very high ranking officer before being finally laid to rest were performed for her.
AND TEARS FLOW AT THE GRAVESITE
The final goodbye was not just emotional, it was very teary too. Many couldn’t hold themselves together as the very Reverend Matthew Ogunsiji and the Rt Revd. Dr Oluyemisi Ogunlere were leading family members to perform the ashes to ashes and dust to dust rites. Many wept profusely and uncontrollably; especially the daughters of the deceased and relatives. She was buried at the luxurious Vault and Gardens cemetery in Ikoyi Lagos. The Vault and Gardens is known to have housed the remains of many top Lagosians and it continues to remain that way.
THE HAVEN EVENT CENTER HOSTS GUESTS
The burial reception was the next point of call for most guests after the church service. The Haven Event Center in Ikeja GRA was the venue. The calibre of cars at the car park made enough statement for anyone who could read between the lines. The classes of people at the party reception were not just ordinary people; they were the high and mighty. They all came to felicitate with the Rotimi and Shoyinka families.
AFO GUARANTOR AND FAMILY STORM PARTY
One of the most notable names that were spotted at the reception was the popular Lagos and Ogun Socialite, Chief Afolabi Sodunke. He came in the company of his wife, Chief Mrs Olasunbo Sodunke and son, Mr Bolaji Sodunke. Afo Guarantor came in his customary white agbada and royal blue cap which matches the colour of the day.
RHYTHM AND SOUND ENTERTAINMENT THRILLS
This report would not be complete if the mention is not made of the live band that entertained at the reception. This band known as the Rhythm and Sound entertainment is a youthful, dynamic and highly talented music band. They performed different genres of music and did them just like the original composers. The band is made up of a young bandleader, two backup singers and three instrumentalists but they are all skilled musicians.
EGBA CHIEFS CAME ALONG
Their table looked like the gathering of Egba-in-council meeting because of the way the people on this table were dressed. Most of them came in their traditional chieftaincy caps and they were referred to as the Egba Ologun Olorogun Chiefs. They all dressed in white outfits and caught the attention of many people at the event.
MEET THE COMMITTEE OF FRIENDS HOME AND ABROAD
They are called the committee of friends and have been making things happen since the death of Chief Mrs Aarinola Rotimi. They are very good friends of the Rotimis and even went as far as making obituaries in national dailies and weeklies on behalf of the Rotimi and Shodunke Families. This group of special people is listed in no particular order as follows; Mr Kola Aderonmu, Elder Abimbola Samson USA, Otunba Babatunde Ayeni USA, Mr Lanre Oni USA, Mr Wande Sosan USA, Mr Bolaji Ogunsanya USA, Mr Mutiu Abayomi Adelekan, Mr Gbolahan Sanni, Mr Gboyega Somide, Mr Jide Odebunmi, Mr Kayode Ogun (Sir Kay) Alhaji Tajudeen Rosiji (USA), Mr Olakunle Kunrunmi (USA), Mr Olayiwola Rosiji (USA), Min Oladapo FT Adebiyi (NED), Mr Kamoru Yemitan, Prince Tunde Akamo FCA, Apagun Shamsudeen Awopeju, Alhaji Jubril Kushimo (OBAMEWA), Chief Oluwatosin Fadare FCA, Chief Sunday Bamgboye (USA), Mr Adewale Adenuga (USA), Rear Admiral Segun Abari Rtd. Engr/ MT Adewale, Mr Wale Sonde UK, Mr Kunle Eboda UK,Mr Femi Akingbade and Akinrogun Afolabu Adesina Sodunke.
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