Lagosians say goodbye to a king

Political and religious leaders and members of the public on Thursday gathered to pray at the residence of the late Elegushi of Ikate land, Yekini Elegushi, who died on November 19, 2009.

Thursday marked the eigth day prayers for the deceased, which is a compulsory Islamic rite. Notable personalities amongst the guests included the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, who sat beside his predecessor, Bola Tinubu. Also at the event was entrepreneur, Okoya Thomas, and the Action Congress governorship candidate in Osun State during the 2007 elections, Rauf Aregbesola, amongst others.

.‘I miss him'

Sahid Elegushi, one of the departed king's sons and possible heir to the throne, described his father's death as "sudden". He said the family is mourning because of the late ruler's compassion as a father.

"He was my father and friend," Mr. Elegushi said. "He (did) not discriminate amongst us his children. He was the man of everybody. He was more than a father to us. I will miss him."

A female member of the royal council, Idera Oshinusi, the Yeye Meho of Ikate land, said plans for the king's 70th birthday were on when the news of his demise was announced.

"We thought we would be celebrating his birthday, but thanks to God we are celebrating a good father to the people," said the female chief. "He was a great and loving man. We will not forget him," she added.

The visionary

The late Elegushi of Ikate Land is credited with the great changes on the Lekki Peninsula since the early 90s. The area, which before then was largely a collection of swampland, is now home to some of the world's most sought-after estates. Mr. Aregbesola said this was because the Oba leveraged his connections well. "He was an Oba that didn't see any other reason to be an Oba than for the growth of the area and the development of his people," he said.

"He was a hardworking man before he ascended the throne. In the course of working, he developed a network of contacts, which made him able to attract attention to this place to bring about development."

The late Yekini Elegushi was born on April 10, 1940. He attended the Local Authority Primary School, Moba, and later St. Stephen's School, Lagos. In 1970, he started his own company, the Edo-Ikate Clearing Limited.

He officially became the Elegushi in 1991, the 20th ruler of Ikate land, and had nine Oloris (royal wives).

Reports say he went to bed normally in the evening of Wednesday, November 18, and was pronounced dead hours later. He was 69 years old.