4th August, 2011
Campbell John McLeod, a Scottish theologian, wrote in one of his works that “to live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.†It was difficult for everyone who knew Idowu Fasina well to believe he was no more when the news of his death was broken penultimate Saturday. ID, as he was fondly called by his friends, touched many lives despite the fact he was not financially-buoyant.
There was nothing he could not give to whosoever was in need. A fried said of him, “there was a day I needed N1500 when he was around. He brought out all the money in his pocket then, it was N1815. Idowu counted N1500 from it and gave me. I felt reluctant to collect but he persuaded me. I can never forget the generosity of this guy.†Another friend said, “My car broke down sometime ago, the mechanics were demanding for N15000. At that time there was no way I could raise that money. So I decided to leave the car with the mechanics. ID went to the workshop, paid the mechanics without my knowledge, only for the mechanics to call me to come and take my car.†“How can I forget the numerous things he had done for me and my family? Idowu was kind to a fault,†said another friend.
The ailment that cut short Idowu Fasina’s life, according to some close friends, started sometime ago, he was said to have been enduring it until when it got to a stage he could not bear it any longer, he went to carry out scan, the outcome of the scan compelled him to seek admission at Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Ibara, Abeokuta, Southwest, Nigeria on Monday, 11 July 2011. The surgery of the affected part was (supposedly) successfully carried out on Wednesday, July 13. He had been standing up and walking about in the hospital after the surgery, he had even told some people who were planning to visit him in the hospital not to bother, as he would soon be discharged. He looked forward to Tuesday, July 19 as the day he would leave FMC for his home. However, there was complication that same Tuesday, and it was alleged that he was left without being treated for three days during which family sources said he bled internally and emaciated. He, however, died when he was being treated on Saturday, 23 July and was interred in his uncompleted building at Sango, Ogun State on Thursday, 28 July.
A clergyman once wrote, “Some die without having really lived, while others continue to live, in spite of the fact that they have died.†Even though Idowu has gone to the great beyond, he will forever be living in the hearts of those who truly knew him.
Idowu Fasina was born on Friday, 6 November 1966 at a village near Igbesa, Ogun State to the family of Mr and Mrs Daniel Fasina. He was the last born of his parents; he had three brothers and a sister. He had his secondary education at Owode High School, Owode Egba, Ogun State. He did his National Diploma at Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu Campus while his Higher National Diploma was completed at Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo.
He started his working career at Independent Communication Network Limited, ICNL, publishers of TheNEWS and P.M.NEWS and later moved to Ovation International magazine where he was the circulation manager until his demise.
Idowu Fasina was married to Funlayo. The union was blessed with two children, Opeyemi and Pipeloluwa.
May God give his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss his exit has created.
•Femi Anjorin is ICNL’s librarian