OLAYEMI WONDER & WOLE AJETUNMOBI
Nigerians have been expressing anger at the ostentation being exhibited by the family of the former Oyo State governor Abiola Ajimobi in a newly built multi-million naira Mausoleum housing the grave of the late politician.
Citizens, who are riled by what many of them have described as the insensitivity of the Ajimobi family to the ordeal of Nigerians, especially at a time when the ordinary people are groaning under the just- increased fuel price and raised electricity tariff, took to the social media to excoriate the late former governor’s family over a video of the magnificent mausoleum now trending online.
In the 27-second video, an opulent, well-lit, floor-to-wall polished marble, furnished and air conditioned Mausoleum serving as the burial place for the late governor, is exhibited. The mausoleum is served by a split air conditioner in addition to two other fitted air conditioners to keep the inside of the structure permanently cool.
The expansive mausoleum, which has almost a normal living room setting, is furnished with exotic antique furniture that can sit a number of persons, with a number of fluffy throw pillows.
The late former governor’s grave made of polished marble, occupies the centre of the Mausoleum with a fitted air conditioner blowing directly from the ceiling on it, while Ajimobi’s life-size portrait leans majestically on the equally marbled wall with white roses shaped to form a large heart or love sign, perching beside it. Also, at the foot of Ajimobi’s marble grave are bouquets of another white roses used to form the word ‘DAD.’
But Nigerians, who have been reacting to the video of the late former Oyo governor’s expensive mausoleum on Twitter, have been unsparing in their criticisms of the Ajimobi family’s “vanity.”
Akinbamiduro Adenike… said, “I don’t see the need for the money wasted on this grave, when there are citizens who are hungry and don’t have roof over their heads. The AC and expensive chair is for who? SMH this is a misplaced priority,” while BANKOLE OLUWASEUN quipped, “…So u mean even in death Ajimobi still receives visitor?”
Sisi bunmi on her part asked,” ..The chairs there is for who? Cos I dont get. Even air conditioner ?” just as EMPRESSARA said, “…Ajumobi wan Dey do meeting with ghost Ni, abi which kin wahala be this?”
MODU OYE lamented, “…Living being sleep under bridge and a corpse has well tiled, AC room with royal chair.”
But ADIGUNTENTEN noted, “..No matter how beautiful his grave looks, he’ll face the consequences of all his deeds up there, it’s left for God to decide if he’ll be in a beautiful place or not! As far as I’m concerned, that’s all that matters.”
BERTRAND KENZO’s post on the matter read, “…Those saying poverty has clouded our thinking …Leave all those ones first. You are on earth seeing a beautiful grave and you feel he (ajimobi) is enjoying? Do you know where he is or what he is passing through right now?… Start thinking beyond bro/girl. Everything no be yabin.”
OLUWAGBEMIGA.D noted, “….The only prayer is I hope he made heaven or else……the Air-conditioner no go dey reach am.
But RAFIKI quipped, “…Which heaven, na the lie wey pastors dem Dey tell us …..bro that’s lie heaven is not for every believer oh.”
Ajimobi died last June at a private hospital in Lagos after spending weeks in intensive care for coronavirus complications. He was 70.
The former Oyo governor’s demise occurred a week after he was rumoured to have died at the same private hospital. That rumour turned to be false.
He was first hospitalised in early June after contracting the deadly coronavirus.
Ajimobi was a senator from 2003 to 2007. After unsuccessful attempts, he was ultimately elected governor in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, becoming the first Oyo State governor to serve two terms.