Chief (Alhaji) Adegboyega Arulogun Answered the Final Call
When a Yoruba person utters the sigh, "Á-À-Áh!" it's a combination of exclamation, exasperation, and a tone of incredulity that could not possibly be translated into any other language that I know. That is what I just did. . . Á-À-Áh!
Why?
Barely four months ago, we buried Professor Akinwumi Isola, a creative writer and mentor of the highest esteem. one months ago, we buried Papa S. O. Ogundiran, an educator extraordinaire and mentor. Papa Adegboyega Arulogun was the Co-Chairman of Professor Akinwumi Isola's Burial Planning/Publicity Committee, both of which my wife and I served on. Papa Arulogun was agile, cheerful, humorous, and charismatic. If he saw me in the middle of the crowd, he would yell out, "Professor, bawo ni o?" and we would laugh heartily together. He had once told me the patriarch of my family was his hero. I felt like a son to him.
Early yesterday morning, Papa Arulogun felt shortness of breath and called on his son to drive him to the clinic. He was the "GPS" that gave his son directions to where the clinic was. Shortly after, Papa was gone to join his ancestors! He had promised to formally take my wife and I to Professor Isola's village at any time we wanted but we (I should say I) kept procrastinating, including even last week! Years back, he was the Oyo State Commissioner for Communications and Culture - thankfully, his son holds the same portfolio today. He was buried yesterday evening in accordance to the Muslim rites. Another gentle soul is gone. You could not but ask God, albeit childishly, "How come only the good ones are dying?" I know God's answer: "Sorry, son, we don't use any quota system here. The good, the bad, and the baddest - even babies, die at their own time."
May those Papa has left behind be comforted!
Michael O. Afoláyan
Doubly Sad in the State of the Living Spring . . .
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