A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Sola Lawal, is dead.
Known as Adimula, Lawal was Personal Assistant to the late Yoruba Leader, Senator Abraham Adesanya, for years.
He died in the early hours of Thursday in a Victoria Island, Lagos hospital after battling pancreatic cancer.
The 62-year-old activist, religious leader and businessman was a known face in the fight to actualise the mandate of the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.
Lawal was also one of the young Turks of Yoruba extraction who fought the General Sani Abacha regime to a standstill which eventually led to return of democratic rule in 1999.
Born into the Ogunyemi Adereti Lawal family of Iremo, Ile-Ife in Ife Central Local Government of Osun State, Lawal was the Otun Aare Adeen of Ile-Ife.
He was also the Chairman/CEO of Globe Telly.
Married with children, Lawal attended Erin Community Grammar School, Erin-Ijesha, Osun State and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
His remains were moved from Lagos to Ile-Ife in the morning for burial, according to Muslim rites.
In a tribute on Facebook, Bojuwola Omolewa Olajumoke wrote:
“THE UNCHALLENGEABLE EXIT!!!
“The journey of life is designed to end someday. God in His supreme ways, He never made the days to be known by individuals which makes Him “The unquestionable God ”
“In the journey of my life, I have met many people who have impacts in my life and whom I hold in high esteem.
“Hon Sola Lawal happened to be one of the numerous people I have met.
“I met him via politics, back in 2012 he was loved by many I could still remember how my mom and other women leaders in Ife-central LG would always hail him “Adimula” here and there, he was young, respectful and vibrant.
“Adimula as fondly called was part of my educational journey,I never had a talk directly with him, and now my looking forward to one day to thank him in person already faded away.
“With rude shook, I got the news of your demise this early morning. The help you rendered back then shaped me more into who I am, which makes me always remembered you are part of the people that built me educationally.
“Sola Lawal “Adimula1” I pray God place you right, forgive your shortcomings, grant you eternity, rest well in the Bosom of your Lord.
“I pray God gives the family you left behind fortitude to bear the loss. ADIEU ADIMULA1 TILL WE MEET TO PART NO MORE”
BOJUWOLA OMOLEWA OLAJUMOKE
IREMO WARD 001
AJEBAMIDELE
ILE-IFE
OSUN STATE.
