OJB Jezreel, Henrietta Kosoko and the need to immortalize our fallen heroes

– NAIJ.com eulogizes OJB Jezreel as he
joins other fallen heroes who have exited
the big stage in 2016
– The Nigerian music veteran was confirmed
dead today June 14, 2016 at a Lagos
hospital following complications from a
kidney defect
– As the nation mourns the singer, as well
as other heroes who have passed recently,
there comes an increased need to
immortalize these men and women of
substance
Even though death will continue to remain
one unfortunate and mysterious occurrence,
as more often than not it leaves no traces
prior to striking, the fact that life is fleeting
should come as no surprise to anyone at this
point because it is as real as the sky is
blue.
In the last few weeks, Nigeria has lost a
number of influential persons in different
walks of life and it brings the transient
nature of our existence to the fore once
again.
On Monday, June 6, 2016, veteran Nollywood
actress Henrietta Kosoko breathed her last
at a Lagos hospital after suffering from
diabetes for years. The incident threw the
entire entertainment industry into deep
shock.
Late Nollywood veteran actress Henrietta
Kosoko.
READ ALSO: In memory of 15 Nigerian
entertainers we have lost in 2016
While the pains were still fresh and the
mourning ongoing, on Wednesday, June 8,
2016, the nation woke up to the horrible
news of the passage of former Nigerian
soccer player and coach Stephen
Okechukwu Keshi and the pangs of his
demise held the nation spellbound, spreading
into the other parts of the continent and
beyond.
Two prominent deaths, two major industries,
one nation, one people, diverse feelings. And
the pains went on from one degree to
another, partly uniting us in the nuances of
emotional pains, trauma, misery and
everything in between.
The people continued to struggle with
coming to terms with the distressing news
of their deaths, especially in the face of an
ailing sociopolitical clime, as it all felt like
the weight of the world on our individual
shoulders. The anguish was particularly
unbearable for their close ones and
immediate family members.
While the deaths of these two brought fresh
pains to millions of hearts, former Super
Eagles coach Amodu Shuaibu joined in the
ascension from earth as he was found dead
in his sleep in the early hours of Saturday,
June 11, 2016.
Three shockers in so short a space of time,
coming from two keenly loved and followed
industries in Nigeria despite our political,
religious and sociopolitical fragmentations as
a people.
File photo of late Super Eagles coach
Stephen Keshi
These happenings are still agonizing but it
appears the bitter pangs of death is bent on
piercing us some more as a people because
veteran Nigerian musician Babatunde ‘OJB
Jezreel’ Okungbowa was today June 14,
2016 confirmed dead at a Lagos hospital
following complications from his failed
kidney.
This makes it the fourth death of a bigwig in
eight days, some terribly tragic incidents
that only time can heal. It is saddening.
In a nut shell, the year 2016 has truly been
unfair to us as a people.
READ ALSO: So touching! Here’s what Keri
Hilson said about Nigeria during recent
interview
First, we are grappling with the challenges
of system-wide dilapidation in Nigeria, and
as the day goes it appears the government
of the day is bereft of ideas with which to
truly implement the much-promised change.
The nation is almost at a comatose, with her
intelligentsia failing to rise up to the
occasion and deliver us from the attendant
troubles and financial ruins of a drop in oil
prices.
Every sector is weak and struggling for
breath like a frail, panting Kenyan
marathoner. Things are just bizarre in
aspects of inflation, insecurity,
unemployment and whatnot. But this is only
the first of many troubles today as death
has stepped in to worsen the situation.
File photo of late Super Eagles coach
Shuaibu Amodu
It is only the first because even beyond the
socioeconomic malaise, there are too many
back-to-back deaths today. What makes it
even more troubling is that these are
occurrences at a point when we are yet to
get our health sector right, and so it is
difficult to say whether or not they are as a
result of lapses in our health sector or other
reasons. Surely, time will tell as we are not
in the best positions to analyze these
variables.
Social media has been agog with
endless reactions, accolades and various
forms of eulogies as these were truly
influential figures. It’s been tragic, to say
the least.
Life is transient, live every day as
though you are prepared for anything.
Anything. God rest the dead.
11:15 AM - 14 Jun 2016
El Jefe
@ChibuzoHI
From Henrietta Kosoko to Stephen
Keshi, Amodu Shuaibu & OJB Jezreel,
we have lost some pretty influential
figures in 21st century Nigeria.
3:45 PM - 14 Jun 2016
El Jefe
@ChibuzoHI
It is only fair the appropriate
authorities make efforts towards
immortalizing these 'fallen heroes'. It
is the least they deserve.
3:48 PM - 14 Jun 2016
El Jefe
@ChibuzoHI
It has been a macabre year, the latest
happenings reminding us anew that life is
one fleeting moment and time a luxury too
precious to trifle with. The accolades will
continue to pour in, from different divides
and parts of the world and from families,
friends, fans, critics, pundits and even
strangers alike, but as good as these sound
there is need for more.
READ ALSO: Sultry singer begs police
following arrest, here’s what she said
File photo of late music veteran OJB Jezreel
Rest in Peace OJB Jezreel. Thanks for
producing African Queen and all those
other hits back in the day. Goodnight
10:44 AM - 14 Jun 2016 · Victoria
Island, Nigeria, Nigeria
107 15
Chidi Okereke
@Chydee
Emeka ike pays his tribute to OJB
Jezreel in our studio.
#WetinDeyFamily
3:49 PM - 14 Jun 2016
9 2
RADIO CONTINENTAL FM
@RC1023FM
It is safe to say that OJB Jezreel was
Quincy Jones of the Nigerian music
industry. He will be really missed...
12:33 PM - 14 Jun 2016
60 21
Ohimai Godwin Amaize
@MrFixNigeria
Veteran Nigerian music producer OJB
Jezreel has just died. I'm honestly
tired of saying RIP, but then #RIPOJB
11:56 AM - 14 Jun 2016
68 8
Uduh Emeka
@UduhEmeka
OJB Jezreel
Singer, Writer, Producer
Master of all
Legend
Rest well
11:45 AM - 14 Jun 2016 · Lagos,
Nigeria, Nigeria
35 2
Omo Jesu
@tosinadeda
The Nigeria Football Federation (which
reportedly owes late Shuaibu some months
of unpaid salaries and all) as well as the
Nigerian entertainment industry have a lot to
do.
The authorities responsible in the nation’s
football sector as well as the music and
movie industries need to step on the gas and
sort things out as there’s no better time than
this.
Death is a debt we all owe and some day,
prepared or not, we shall all pay, bow and
leave the stage.
The families of these fallen heroes deserve
their respective entitlements down to the
last Naira in addition to every other form of
benefits due to them for the influential roles
these late figures played in various forms
leading to the development and cohesion of
the nation.
READ ALSO: Muhammad Ali, the boxing
legend akin to a Hollywood star
Kosoko, Keshi, Shuaibu and Okungbowa are
heroes in every right and deserve everything
possible to keep their immediate families
stable, in addition to getting their names
firmly etched and properly written in history
books.
Anything contrary to immortalizing these
ones will be outright failure on our paths, it
will be a huge mismatch between reality and
expectations. And this, people, is unfitting
for these men and woman of substance.