28/11/2016
ONCE UPON A MIDNIGHT
I startled out of sleep and rose to a sitting position, all within a second.
The feeling was similar to being revived with an electric shock. It was not one of my usual ways of waking up. I'm blessed with a strong instinct which enables me to sense whenever something is wrong. This kind of occurrence was a clear example. Something was wrong.
I checked the time by my bedside clock. It was 1.13am. (That is a time I will never forget). I had slept around 10.30pm. So, I've had 2 hours 43minutes of sleep. That's another 'q***r' attribute of mine. I always calculate my hours of sleep. I dislike sleeping beyond the normal seven hours I've set for myself.
I search my mind for some moment to pick something but it read blank. The night was quiet. Even the night birds were on a break. I was still feeling sleepy and wanted to lie back on the bed to sleep again, but the strong feeling that a thing has gone wrong wouldn't go away. So I prayed. Or, my mouth mumbled some words, to fulfill righteousness. My primary concern was not to miss the normal sleep hours before day break.
I kept vigil for about 10 minutes, then went back to sleep.
I was roused from sleep again at 4.10am. This time around, my phone was ringing, my private number. (I always switch off my business line before retiring for the night). The caller was Uzoma, Kunle's girlfriend. Something definitely has gone wrong.
Kunle's and Idowu were returning from Abuja on a night bus. Several thoughts ran through my sensitive mind: Are they stranded on the way? Has the bus broken down? Why did Kunle or I.D not call me directly? Maybe their phone batteries were dead.
I picked the call.
"Hello Bishop" Her voice was low.
"Good morning Uzo" I put my usual charm into my voice. "Don't tell me you are missing Kunle to the extent of interrupting my sleep."
"Kunle asked me to call you." She ignored my joke but continued in a much lower voice. It appeared to me that she was suppressing a sob. So I listened.
"He said his phone battery was flat and had to use a co-passenger’s phone to call me. He said he had tried reaching you on your business line severally. He doesn't know your other number offhand. The thing is… the bus that he and Idowu boarded was attacked by a gang of armed robbers and... and Idowu is dead." Her voice trailed off… Then, she let go of the suppressed weeping.
I went silent for half a second.
Then, I shouted...
That marked the devastating end of a genius, Emmanuel Adebayo Idowu Adewumi in the early hours of Tuesday, 28th November, 2006.
Later, when Kunle narrated to me the details of the attack and the incident of Idowu's death, I discovered that I had woken up at the exact time he died – 1.13am.
Idowu was a phenomenon young man. He was a guy you couldn't hate. He was born a genius and his childhood was a wonder. He completed his primary school education in four years instead of the mandatory six years. His class teachers couldn't keep him. Idowu was breaking every academic record on his part. He was one of the best graduating students of his set at the prestigious Abeokuta Grammar School. His academic prowess endeared him towards an influential man, Engr Olude Gamu, who literally adopted him and sponsor his university education at the famous University of Lagos. Again, I.D was the second best graduating student in his faculty. One of the fascinating facts about his academic prowess was that I.D wasn't much of a reader. Meanwhile his level of assimilation was out of this world. His brain mopped up knowledge like foam would water.
Who was he to me?
I came in contact with Idowu in 1994 through his older brother, Ayokunle. Kunle and I hit off a long lasting friendship and brotherhood on a football field! When I met the lanky, 5.9ft Idowu for the first time, he was talking. (I could picture a nostalgic smile on the faces of Yetunde, Taiwo, Kunle, Wole and Dare). If Idowu had lived in the days of Goliath the Philistine warrior, Israel wouldn't need the service of the shepherd boy David; he would conveniently flat the giant with his mouth! What Idowu lacked in stature and stamina, he made up with his mouth. That was his weapon of mass defense.
Idowu's heart was knit with mine in a similar way Jonathan's heart was knit with David's. I loved him dearly. He was happy to have another "brother" like Kunle, a jovial one who understood almost every of his move. Grandma Adewumi would often comment that she couldn't really comprehend how God brought Kunle and me together but was certain heaven ordained it. There were many youthful escapades involving Ayokunle, Taiwo, Idowu and myself but as this article is a tribute to I.D, I'll relate few ones involving him and me.
UNILAG TRIP
I remember accompanying him to process his admission registration in Unilag where he had been admitted to study Material and Metallurgical Engineering. The crowd of freshmen struggling to complete their registration was so much. Many of them had come from outside Lagos like us and were not prepared to make the trip twice. Initially, I.D's heart wanted to fail him but I told him it had to be done that day. Although I had gone with him in order to assist in making the process fast, which I did in few places. Unfortunately he had to do the final submission personally. It took him over two hours and by the time he was through, he was soaked with sweat. I took one look at him and burst into laughter.
"Welcome to Unilag." I teased him.
"Bishop, this is crazy. Look at me." He pointed at his drenched shirt.
"You just had your first initiation into life in the university."
He shook his head in disbelief. He told me he was thirsty and we strolled to a campus cafe. One of the popular beverage brands had just introduced the 50cl bottle into the market. Idowu ordered one while I settled with the regular 35cl bottle. His need was understandable having just gone through the hassle of registration. To my amazement, Idowu drained the 50cl in about five or six gulps. He promptly requested for another 50cl bottle!
"O to bee.” (No you won't dare do that). I exclaimed in disbelief.
"E ma wo mi." (Just watch me). He replied.
He promptly drank the second bottle, slowly this time around but he downed it!
I told him he just made it into Guinness Book of World Record, ‘though, unofficially!
WEEKEND DELIGHT
I taught I.D about girls. Back then, we formed a mocked ladies' ministry called Damselic Ministry with me as the Presiding Bishop. Our circle of friends included many ladies whom we humorously referred to as our damsels. Majority were students like us. No matter how busy our weekends were, we always create time to visit some of them. My foster mother, grandma Adewumi never ceases to wonder why her boys would take delight in spending their weekends visiting ladies without bringing any of them home as a lover!
A CRAZY TRIP
Idowu was an unrepentant fan of the late ace comedian, Gbenga Adeboye. After the comedian’s untimely demise, a candle night was to be held for him in Abeokuta. Idowu was still at Unilag then while I was working and schooling at Ijebu. The event fell on a Tuesday and he somehow talked me into traveling down to Abeokuta while he left Unilag to attend the night procession for his icon. Not minding the fact that we came home the preceding weekend. He bought all of Gbenga Adeboye tapes and I kept several of them for many years in his memory.
PARTY WENT AWRY
Following the demise of the Adewumi paternal grandmother, the whole family travelled to Gbedun village via Ibadan for the burial and we were there for three days. It was fun all the way for us young men. There was lots of eating and drinking. On the midnight after the ceremony, the whole family was rouse from sleep by Idowu's sudden bout of stomach sickness. He was vomiting uncontrollably. Some people said it must have been something he ate. I pointed out that I.D and I ate mostly similar set of foods and I wasn't vomiting. After few hours, the vomiting stopped or so we thought. Very early the next day, we left for Abeokuta. We kept watchful eyes on Idowu through the journey. Barely had we arrived home that I started vomiting too. I.D had a relapse and joined me. We kept taken turn at the bathroom for many hours until we both had no strength left in us. By this time, the whole family especially Grandpa and grandma were seriously worried. They were almost making arrangement to take us to the hospital. For the record, it was out place for me to be sick because of my affirmed faith in the redemptive work of Christ. So I was concerned too. I began to review events of the previous day and think through the various foods I ate with Idowu. I got to a particular one which only he and I ate. Somehow, I sensed that the food was the cause of our sickness. I didn't divulge my suspicion to anyone. Strange enough, Idowu told me he also traced our vomiting to that same food. So I went into prayers and God healed us. I never took any medication. We kept the secret to ourselves.
EAR PINCHING; FEAR OF THE DARK
It is commonly said that anyone who steps on the tail of a cobra is courting real trouble from a poisonous snake. Touching or pinching Idowu by the ears was an act he hated most. I was unlucky to have pinched him in the ear on more than one occasion. His violent reaction against me was so strange. I asked him about it later and he just said he hated people touching his ears. Also, Idowu was not the fearful type. But he confided in me of being afraid of darkness. It was something he couldn’t explain. He just was not comfortable with darkness, especially if he was alone in the dark at night.
AN ANOINTED BEST MAN
When I was to get married, Idowu declared himself as my anointed Best Man. Kunle was my choice. That was obvious anyway. But I.D contended with me and as usual, he had his way and was approved. Unfortunately, he died three months to my wedding.
THE GIFT OF LEATHER WALLET
Until his untimely death, he was working with a Lagos based audit firm. The job saw him travelling mostly by flight through the north and south-east part of the country. On one of his trip to Maiduguri, he bought a leather wallet for me as gift. That’s another thing about him. He knew me inside out. He was aware of my addiction to wallet and knew I needed another quality one. So, he got it for me. As a tribute to him, I still use the wallet till today and planned to use it as long as possible. (I derive amusement in watching people’s faces whenever I bring out the well worn wallet to make payments in malls, eateries and other places. Their expression would read: Go get a new wallet, and I would reply with my own expression: If only you know its worth…).
Heaven knows for sure how long I mourned I.D. I have never felt the impact of the death of a loved one like I did his. A light went out of me as a result of his death. I didn't want to be consoled, so I hid my sorrow from everyone. It was no use for anyone to try to comfort me because I told myself stubbornly that I will not stop mourning him. One of my major reasons was that I had no premonition about his death. Secondly, I knew without doubt that he was destined to play a major role in the history of this generation.
I still miss him a great deal. There are jokes that only him and me can enjoy. There are few codes of mine that only I.D will ever decode. But thank God for the Holy Spirit who gradually and tenderly melted that deep seated anguish from my heart. Like my friend and brother, Kola Oguntayo always say, “O ye Olorun.”
Today, 10 years later, I remember Idowu with relief and consolation that he is enjoying eternity with Christ in heaven. Two days before his death, we attended his last Sunday church service together at Living Faith Church, Abeokuta, Ogun State. It was a praise service and truly speaking, Idowu danced his best that day. I had never seen him dance like that before.
I rejoice greatly because I'm convinced that I will be reconciled with him in paradise after my time on earth.
Idowu was a light to the world. He shone everywhere he went and made meaningful impacts in the lives of everyone who shared his life with him.
All praise to God for the exciting life Emmanuel Idowu Adebayo Adewumi lived.
