The outgoing year is reputed as one of the most deadly in the history of humanity considering the high number of deaths recorded on account of the COVID-19 pandemic that shook the entire world to its foundation. In the US, Britain, Spain, Germany, China, Italy and other countries of the world, deaths were recorded in thousands on account of the deadly virus. Nigeria was no exception even though the country is lucky that its casualty figure from the virus has so far not been as high as it was initially feared. Yet the country has had its fair share of the tragedy as many prominent individuals were lost to the pandemic. GBENGA ADERANTI recalls some celebrities and other prominent Nigerians who lost their lives via the pandemic and other causes during the year.
Abba Kyari
The entire landscape was in shock on April 17 with the official announcement of the death of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari.
His death reportedly from COVID-19 infection had jolted the entire populace to the grim reality of the deadly Coronavirus pandemic.
He was believed to have contracted the virus while he was away in Germany on official assignment.
He was aged 67.
Tolulope Arotile
The entire nation was thrown into mourning on July 14, 2020 with the news of the death of Tolulope Arotile, a 25-year-old flying officer reputed as Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot in the 55 years existence of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
A native of Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State, her brilliant career was halted when she was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her in Kaduna, according to a release by the NAF.
An official release by the NAF says as at October 2019, the late Tolulope had acquired 460 hours of flight within her 14 months of flying a helicopter.
Ismaila Isa Funtua
Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua, a former president of Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria died on July 20 after a brief illness. Born in January 1942, the Second Republic Minister of Water Resources and member of the Constitutional Conference convened during the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha, was said to have driven himself to the hospital before he gave up the ghost.
Until his death, he was reputed as one of the most influential politicians and businessmen in the country. He founded The Democrat, a Kaduna based authoritative newspaper on political matters, and also owned a construction firm renowned for building the magnificent office of the Civil Service of the federation.
Abiola Ajimobi
Former governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi departed the world on June 25 after weeks of his rumoured battle with COVID-19.
Aged 70, he was said to have died from multiple organs failure following complications from coronavirus infection.
He was on the verge of assuming office as the interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the time he died.
Richard Akinjide
Second Republic Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide was among the prominent Nigerians who succumbed to the cold hands of death in the outgoing year. He was 89, died April 21.
The spokesperson of the family, Abayomi Akinjide, said the former AG was buried in line with COVID-19 protocols.
Tunde Buraimoh
Hon. Tunde Buraimoh, who until his death on July 10 was the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information and Strategy, was one of the prominent politicians the state and the rest of Nigeria had to mourn during the year.
He was said to have died in a hospital around Ikorodu. Details of the cause of his death were sketchy, but reports said he had been absent from plenary for about two weeks before he passed on.
The representative of Kosofe 2 Constituency was reputed as an active and eloquent member of the House.
Ibidun Ighodalo
Ibidun Ighodalo, wife of the flamboyant pastor of Trinity House church Itua Ighodalo, died in the early hours of Sunday, June 14.
The family, however, was not forthcoming on the cause of her death, saying that they would appreciate some privacy as they mourned her death.
She was the founder of Ibidunni Ighodalo Foundation (IIF), non-profit making organization she started to raise awareness about infertility and provide grants for couples requiring fertility treatments.
Buruji Kashamu
Billionaire businessman and member of the 8th Senate representing Ogun East, Chief Esho Kashamu popularly called Buruji Kashamu, is among the prominent Nigerians who have died of complications from COVID-19 infection.
Breaking the news of his death on twitter on August 8, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said Kashamu died at First Cardiology Consultants, Lagos at the age of 62.
Sikiru Osinowo
A day after Ibidun Ighodalo’s death, the news also broke of the death of the senator representing Lagos East, Senator Sikiru Osinowo.
Osinowo was said to have died on June 15 at First Cardiology Consultants after battling with an ailment associated with coronavirus.
He was aged 64.
Majek Fashek
The entertainment world was thrown into mourning in early June with the death of Nigerian reggae star, Majekodunmi Fasheke popularly known as Majek Fashek.
According to his manager, Omenka Uzoma, the ‘Rain Maker’ died in his sleep in New York, USA.
Emir of Zazzau
The Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, passed on September 20.
He was until his death one of Nigeria’s most influential traditional rulers.
He was aged 84.
Amaka Ndoma-Egba
All things considered, it has been a very tough year for former Cross River senator, Victor Ndoma-Egba, with the death of his wife in a multiple accident in Ondo State on November 20 weeks after his house was looted by hoodlums who took advantage of the EndSARS protests.
Amaka Ndoma-Egba was said to have died alongside six others in the deadly auto crash involving a truck, a commercial Toyota Avensis bus, a Honda car and a Toyota Coaster bus.
Eight others were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident.
Sam Nda-Isaiah
The media industry was thrown into mourning on December 11 with the death of the publisher of Leadership newspaper and one of the presidential aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015, Sam Nda-Isaiah.
A report in Leadership newspaper quoted his family as saying that the serial entrepreneur and politician died after a brief illness
Chioma Madubuko
In early June, the news broke of the death of former secretary of the Dangote Group, Chioma Madubuko.
The woman of substance died at Reddington Hospital, Lagos after a long battle with multiple sclerosis.
She served the Dangote group for 12 years.
Aminu Logun
Industrialist and elder statesman, Aminu Adisa Logun was until his death in July the Chief of Staff to Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak.
A statement issued by the Chief Press secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye said the late Logun died of complications from COVID-19 infection, only a few hours after the result of a test carried out on him turned out to be positive.
He was aged 73.